Inigo Calderon has warned his Bristol Rovers players that their job to secure League One survival is not done yet despite going nine points clear of the bottom four after home victories over Huddersfield Town and Bolton Wanderers within the space of four days.
A resilient, gritty 1-0 victory over play-off chasing Huddersfield last Saturday was followed up by arguably the Gas’ performance of the season, beating League One’s form team Bolton Wanderers 3-2.
Prior to the Huddersfield win, Rovers had ended a run of three consecutive defeats with a goalless draw away at bottom side Shrewsbury Town and suddenly, their survival chances have been boosted significantly.
With 10 games to go, Calderon’s side sit in 17th place, nine points clear of 21st place Burton Albion while it is looking particularly difficult for Crawley Town, Cambridge United and Shrewsbury Town to secure survival with the other teams in the relegation zone nine, 10, and 11 points from safety.
Asked if he is starting to see the rewards of his and his team’s hard work, the Rovers head coach confessed: “Yeah, especially with our results, you can see more clear but for me, I would say even before that and that’s important when you don’t even win but still think that the process is happening.
“Even the Shrewsbury away game was quite key because of what I saw in the dressing room after the game and during the game and in difficult circumstances because I’ve been seeing that for a long, long time.
“It was a long time thing for me. You cannot expect to get the results so early so it’s still a long marathon for me. I still think we are running that marathon. It’s not a sprint for me. But, especially with the feelings, what I’m seeing from the players, I am quite happy with everything.
“I spoke to the boys this morning and it’s important because I think in four days everything has changed a little bit in terms of the table because it was Saturday and Tuesday,” Calderon added. “All of a sudden, we are better. But that can still change, you know?
“So, for me it’s really important to make sure we don’t think it’s done because we haven’t finished anything yet. We are still there. Obviously, better than one week ago, but it could be a big, big mistake if we think we are safe already because we are not.”
This weekend, Rovers head to a Lincoln City side with seemingly little to play for in the final 10 games of the season. The Imps are currently sat in 13th place, 14 points off the play-offs and 13 points clear of the relegation zone.
Away form has been considerably worse than at home for the Gas who are without a win on the road since January 4. However, they head to the LNER Stadium this Saturday in excellent confidence, just two weeks on from one of their lowest moments of the season when losing to Rotherham United.
A 92nd minute winner saw Rovers fall to a rare home defeat after a well below par display against the Millers which subsequently saw them go just two points clear of the bottom four having lost their previous two matches away at Wycombe Wanderers and relegation rivals Northampton Town.
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Back-to-back victories against play-off contenders at the Mem though has seen the mood at the club massively improve after their biggest week results-wise of the season.
“I know here it is the culture to talk after the games with the boys but sometimes it’s better not to talk too much,” Calderon admitted when reflecting on the defeat to Rotherham a fortnight ago.
“But obviously after Rotherham I could see that the atmosphere was not great, especially because we conceded at the end. Against Bolton it was the opposite. We scored at the end and [that] always brings something extra to the feeling of the boys and especially against a good team and the way we did [it].
“For me, it was the best game. Probably not in the way we played technically, tactically, but in terms of football-wise [it] probably was the best against one of the best teams I think we’ve played this year and, you know, to concede goals and [go] again and again and again and especially after that many games because to be fair, I am exhausted. I am so tired but I have not played.
“Some of the players have been playing 90, 90, 90 and they still perform. That’s a credit to them.”