League One strugglers Bristol Rovers have been described as a League Two side by boss Inigo Calderon after dropping into the relegation zone following another defeat.
The Gas suffered a sixth straight defeat which allowed Gary Bowyer’s Burton Albion to emerge from the drop zone after thrashing Huddersfield Town 3-0 at home.
Calderon’s side were unable to take any points from Exeter City as the Grecians scored twice in the first half which prompted boos to ring out around the Memorial Stadium. A 70th minute goal did provide some hope, but it proved to be too little too late as they fell to a 1-2 home defeat.
| 20th | Burton Albion | 42 |
| 21st | Bristol Rovers | 42 |
| 22nd | Crawley Town | 36 |
Bristol Rovers “a League Two Team”
Inigo Calderon did not hold back in his criticism of his side, after a lengthy spell in the changing room, he emerged to speak with BBC Radio Bristol:
“I think everybody realises now, I don’t know if they knew before, but it’s quite obvious now at this moment we are a League Two team, a League Two club,”
“It was good to have this chat to say everything to the face of everyone, to be a man in front of everyone, because we have to be strong enough to want to go out from this situation.”
“It’s not about shouting, I’m not this kind of guy that shouts at people. I don’t think it helps first because it’s too late because the job has to be done before,”
“But we have to realise where we are and the fact that we are defending a football club and a lot of people that are behind this football club and we are letting them down.
“It’s important to say things to each other’s faces, take it on the chest, and I’m the first one to take it on the chest if I have to be told something.”
“I think we prepared the week well, I think we did everything right in the training ground even before the game in the dressing room I had a great feeling about the players,”
“We have to show that we want to stay in the division or not.”
Can Bristol Rovers Stay in League One?
The fact is, that it is no longer in their hands. When Calderon was appointed The Gas were sitting nine points clear of the relegation zone, but now they could win every game between now and the end of the season and still end up relegated if Burton win their games.
To lose six on the bounce is unforgivable, especially for a side that is meant to be fighting for survival. Despite sitting outside of the relegation zone it looks as though the team had given up. There were 9500 fans at the Memorial Stadium yesterday and they deserve better than what was on show.
Just one win and a draw from those six games would see them four points clear and in a good position to fight. Right now unless there is a very drastic and very sudden change they will be tuning into Fourth Tier Fever next season rather than League One Lowdown. It is inexcusable and the players as well as the manager need to take a look at themselves and apologise to the fans who they have let down. Look at what Burton Albion have managed to achieve after looking down and out for most of the season.
EFL League One Table – Real Time Standings