Inigo Calderon has labelled his first game in charge of Bristol Rovers as a “difficult first day” after the Gas were beaten 3-0 away at Stevenage having played most of the second half with 10 men after Jamie Lindsay was shown two yellow cards.

Rovers started brightly as Promise Omochere missed the first opportunity of the contest but the game then started to turn in the hosts’ favour. Stevenage squandered two good opportunities via Jamie Reid and Lewis Freestone before Elliot List headed a good delivery from Luther James-Wildin past Josh Griffiths.

Omochere, who was the Gas’ hardest working player of the afternoon, was involved again later on as an excellent square pass across goal wasn’t met by a player in green just before the half-time whistle.

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A minute of madness early in the second half saw Lindsay pick up a debatable second booking before Boro scored their second as an unmarked Jordan Roberts thumped home from the resulting free-kick before Jamie Reid wrapped up the victory late on.

Reflecting on his first game in charge, Calderon said: “Difficult first day. I think they had a plan and they did it. We had a plan and we didn’t, basically so then I think you deserve to lose the game or at least not win it.

“It’s not unlucky. I don’t think we were good. We knew how they could hurt us and we didn’t stop that.

“I think the best part is that the boys tried to the end and it’s not easy, especially with that many games.

“Listen, I don’t usually talk too much about the referees,” the Spaniard added on the decision to send Lindsay off on a day where the officiating came under the spotlight. “I just say that I don’t really like when the referee book a player and half a second later they already have the red card. It’s something that I don’t really like.”

Calderon was appointed on Boxing Day as Matt Taylor’s replacement but has already witnessed back-to-back defeats with six goals conceded having been in the stands for the 3-1 loss at Exeter City three days prior.

The 42-year-old had taken charge of just two training sessions before the Stevenage game and will only have another two days before his first home game in charge against in-form Leyton Orient on New Year’s Day. The Gas will then travel to Cambridge United on January 4 as part of a hectic schedule.

Had it not been for a late equaliser by Exeter against Crawley Town, Rovers would have dropped into the relegation zone for the first time this season but they now find themselves back in 20th place just two points clear of the dreaded dotted line.

Asked how much he has learned from his first game in charge, Calderon confessed: “I’m learning every single second I am in this football club. Yeah, I learned a lot of things but it was not a surprise. I have been watching them. Obviously when you have to change, the change is not happening in one day, in one week. As I say, we are going to improve. It depends on if we’re going to do it quick enough.”

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