Bristol Rovers shock v Bolton & Huddersfield feels more important than ever now Calderon is facing a fresh headache | OneFootball

Inigo Calderon and Bristol Rovers have a new headache following Ruel Sotiriou Cyprus World Cup call-up

It was back to reality with a crashing thud for Bristol Rovers as they fell to a 5-0 defeat at Lincoln last weekend. It is the second time in a row that the Gas have gone to the Imps' home turf and returned to North Bristol off the back of a humbling five-goal defeat.

The loss came at the end of a week which might, perhaps prematurely, have given Gasheads renewed faith that the club would be in League One next season. In fact, the two shock wins against Bolton Wanderers and Huddersfield Town did move the Gas nine points clear of the drop zone. But it would be short-lived as Rovers now languish once again in that final spot above the relegation zone and, without maximum points from Bolton and Huddersfield, the reality that they would be in the bottom four.

Bristol Rovers are currently six points ahead of Burton Albion in 21st, making it clear to see just how vital those back-to-back home wins were to ensure that the Gas still have their fate in their own hands.

Ruel Sotiriou set to miss crucial Bristol Rovers match following Cyprus World Cup call-up

But now the Pirates have a new problem as they go into a crucial game against the team currently occupying 22nd place in the table, Crawley Town - who currently sit 12 points behind Rovers and six behind Burton. Rovers will be without one of their most influential players of recent games, 24-year-old Cypriot Ruel Sotiriou, who's been called up to the Cyprus squad for their World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Bosnia.

Sotiriou has been in impressive form in recent times with four goals and one assist since the turn of the year, including the only goal in the one-nil victory against Huddersfield. The Cyprus international would then turn provider against Bolton as he presented the perfect pass for Chris Martin to put away for his second of the game.

It leaves the Rovers head coach with a fresh headache of being short of options up front with Promise Omochere sidelined by a hamstring injury and Gatlin O’Donkor also still recovering from his injury. 17-year-old emerging talent Ollie Dewsbury – who has found himself called in to support the Rovers forward line recently, is also expected to be away on international duty.

Cardiff City forward Michael Reindorf was brought in during the January transfer window to offer Rovers some extra cover up top, but the youngster has struggled to break through into the Rovers squad and Calderón recently stated the youngster was “in a bad moment”. Once again then, it might be that the Gas have to rely a bit too heavily on their veteran striker, Martin, who is expected to be available despite missing out against Lincoln.

Nine matches for Bristol Rovers to salvage their season

It’s been a poor season to say the least for Bristol Rovers, and they now have nine games remaining from which to turn failure into success by achieving safety.

Those six points last week at home look extra crucial with games against Birmingham, Bolton and Wrexham to come in April. And it may turn out to be a key fact that the North Bristol outfit will finish their season with three of their last five games at home, having been able to rely on their record in BS7 this campaign.

Calderon and Gasheads alike then will hope this headache is short-lived, and that the Gas can once again pull away from the drop. They've done it once with shock wins over Bolton and Huddersfield, and should be able to do it again against a lowly Crawley. They need to overcome the blow of missing Sotiriou, though, who was key to those aforementioned successes.

So, as the season enters its crucial period, the feeling lingers that, whilst Bristol Rovers' campaign might have one more twist in it unless they reassert themselves, it could well be those two surprising results prior to Lincoln that save Calderon's side.