Inigo Calderon makes 'top team in the division' dig after 'brutal' Birmingham City penalty

Inigo Calderon makes 'top team in the division' dig after 'brutal' Birmingham City penalty

Birmingham City moved to within eight points of promotion - but they were made to work for their win at Bristol Rovers

Bristol Rovers manager Inigo Calderon reacts on the touchline during the Sky Bet League One match at the Memorial Stadium, Bristol (Image: PA )

Inigo Calderon believes struggling Bristol Rovers stopped Birmingham City from looking like the runaway League One leaders they are.

Blues secured a 2-1 victory at the Memorial Stadium to move 14 points clear of third-placed Wycombe as both the Chairboys and Wrexham dropped points on a big night for the champions elect.

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However, they needed a late Jay Stansfield penalty and a fair portion of luck to pull it off as Rovers, who are now only three points above the relegation zone, responded to Keshi Anderson’s early opener to equalise through Gatlin O’Donkor and go on to twice hit the woodwork and miss several very good chances to take the lead.

In they end they were undone five minutes from time leaving their head coach crestfallen: “Football is not fair when you are down there, but that is the reality,” Calderon said.

“I don’t think we have to feel sorry or say unlucky. I think we have to accept that, and I accept that. I think when you’re down there, the luck is not with you at all, and you have to do things better. I think we did 85 minutes really good.

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“I think we started the game not too good, and we showed too much respect to them. After, I think we changed, and we were much, much better. We were on the front foot, and we were much better for 85 minutes.

"I don’t think you could see that they were the top team in the division. It’s true again that the penalty, I don’t know, came from a lack of concentration.

“Something happened in there, and it was a mistake, and that’s the reality. You cannot have mistakes when you are down there because they are going to punish you. Especially good teams. But it’s true that for 85 minutes, the team was really good.

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“The fact that we conceded that early again, it was like, ‘wow boys, that’s not what we wanted’. Especially after coming from last weekend. I think credit to the boys.

“They showed a reaction because it’s not easy after conceding that early again against a top team. I think it’s going to be a long night, but I think they reacted really well. Really, really good.

“It was not easy at all, and that’s why it probably hurts even more because with everything we did, conceding the penalty is cruel and brutal. But that’s the reality.

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“Even the referees. When it’s a 50-50, and you are down there, it’s going to be for the other ones. That’s it. You cannot even complain. We have to accept it like that, and we have to do better and better and again.

“I said to the boys we have to go again and tomorrow again and again and again and again. It’s the only thing we can do.”

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