Iñigo Calderón stated Bristol Rovers' defeat to Blackpool was ‘painful’ after the Gas lost 4-1 to Blackpool at Bloomfield Road.
The Pirates were looking to conclude the 2024/25 campaign with a victory and gained the lead through Gatlin O’Donkor in the first half but could not hold onto their narrow advantage.
Tom Bloxham levelled before the break from close range before Albie Morgan gave Steve Bruce’s men the lead with a clever finish from the middle of the box. Niall Ennis added a third on the counter, with Ryan Finnigan completing the Tangerines’ victory in the final stages.
Calderón reflected on the defeat before speaking about Ollie Dewsbury, who made his first start for Rovers.
It was painful to watch...
“I was quite naive thinking that maybe we could have a good last day,” he said. “The first half, more or less, we know their best qualities, but still we were alright. We scored a goal. It was not the best one, but a goal and after a mistake, we conceded. I think the start of the second half was not good. Especially, the last part of the game was difficult to watch. It was painful to watch.
"It has been a tough season, a tough week, and probably to stay in the game was too much to ask today. I have to say it like that.
"I think in the first half, we were alright, and when we scored, we were alright. It’s true that when we conceded the goal, and in the second half, we started to go to the other side of the game that you don’t want. The last 30 minutes were difficult to watch.”
I think we have been alright until we concede a goal...
“I think we have been alright until we concede a goal, and then we look so weak after that,” said Calderón. “It has been a tough season for the boys and everyone at the club. So, as soon as that happens and we are not in the game, it is a nightmare. It’s been difficult.”
We have to be better...
“I think we have to be better,” said the Head Coach. “I think we lack a bit in the final third. We need to improve defensively. We’re still conceding chances. It's true that in the last third, if you don’t produce enough, sometimes it’s the game plan, but it was clear that as soon as we lost too many strikers, we struggled to score goals, and that’s been the issue.
"In the game against Reading, we created chances, but in the end, we couldn’t score them. That’s the wonderful part of football, scoring goals, and we were not good at that.”
Credit to the academy...
“I think Ollie Dewsbury has been unlucky in terms of the situation we have been in because I was even thinking about playing him against Reading from the start, but I didn’t feel that was fair for him,” said the Spaniard. “I would say that if we had more points, he would play more minutes, but I thought it was not fair to put him under that much pressure.
"He played today from the start. Credit to the academy. I think it’s important that we have some positives, and players coming through the system is really important for the football club.”
