Inigo Calderon makes rotation confession as Bristol Rovers prepare for FA Cup tie at Ipswich

Inigo Calderon has confessed that he hasn’t yet decided whether he plans to rotate his team and, if so, to what extent when Bristol Rovers travel to Premier League Ipswich Town on Sunday in the FA Cup third round.

The new Rovers head coach has only been in the job for a fortnight and has finally been able to enjoy an uninterrupted schedule on the training pitch following last Saturday’s 1-0 win at Cambridge United.

That victory followed defeats to Stevenage and Leyton Orient and has certainly lifted the mood after a run of seven league matches without a win.

Now, attention turns to the FA Cup where the Gas are notable underdogs in a game that naturally won’t define their season but one where they are looking to make a strong account of themselves against top-flight opposition.

“To be fair we haven’t decided that yet,” Calderon said when asked whether he plans to rotate his team for the FA Cup tie. “I said to the boys only the truth. I have so much belief in all of them that I’m not [going to] waste too much time thinking of who’s going to play because I prefer to give everyone a chance during the week and after pick the 11. That’s no problem for me.

“For me, it was most important what happened in the training sessions because I said that that’s the way I can see where the team is or what I can do mainly with the team. The game is just trying to get the best of each game but it’s through that…listen, it’s going to be a great test. Obviously, probably too difficult at the moment but I don’t have any fear, any worry at all.

“We go there to try to do the best and the best is maybe winning the game.”

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Had original rules regarding replays remained in place, Rovers would have had to play four games in the FA Cup by now having beaten Weston-super-Mare in extra-time 3-1 before hanging on by a thread at league rivals Barnsley over 120 minutes to then win on penalties.

It’s not been the most convincing of cup runs so far while there isn’t an abundance of glamour surrounding Sunday’s tie that you would expect when travelling to Premier League opposition considering that a trip to Portman Road has been part of the fixture schedule in five of the past six campaigns.

The two teams had been in League One alongside one another for three of four seasons in which the Tractor Boys spent at third tier level before their promotion to the Championship in 2023. They then hosted Rovers last season as a second tier outfit in the League Cup before going on to record a remarkable second consecutive promotion, reaching the Premier League.

However, it will still be an opportunity for the Gas to test themselves against top-flight opposition and Calderon admits that Ipswich are a great example of what’s possible for clubs at League One level.

“I think it’s a good example of when you do things right you can achieve things that maybe it was not at the beginning of your ideas,” the Spaniard declared. “That’s why I love football, that’s why I love coaching because if you do things right you can beat bigger clubs or clubs with more money.”