Bristol Rovers a 'League Two side' - Calderon

Bristol Rovers are playing like a "League Two side", said manager Inigo Calderon after they dropped into the relegation zone following a sixth straight defeat.

The Gas were beaten 2-1 by Exeter City at home and were booed off by their own fans after falling into the League One bottom four on goal difference.

Calderon spoke to the media an hour after the final whistle following a long post-match conversation with the players in the changing room.

"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," Calderon told BBC Radio Bristol.

"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."

Defeat by Exeter was Bristol Rovers' sixth straight loss in League One

Calderon was appointed on Boxing Day after former manager Matt Taylor left the club, and they were nine points clear of the drop zone on 14 March.

However, with only two wins in their past 12 games, and Burton's resurgent form, they have fallen below the Brewers.

"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," Calderon said.

"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."

Rovers conceded the first Exeter goal in the 11th minute, before the Grecians went 2-0 up shortly before half-time. Ruel Sotiriou pulled a goal back in the 70th minute.

Calderon said the day was the "most difficult" during his tenure at the club and that it had to be a "turning point".

They face a tough away trip to Wrexham on Good Friday before hosting Stevenage on Easter Monday, and then Reading, before a trip to Blackpool on the final weekend of the season.

"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," Calderon said.

"We have to show that we want to stay in the division or not."