Caldwell: '˜We did the basics wrong again'

Spireites were beaten 2-1 at Bristol Rovers as relegation to League Two moved that little bit nearer.

First-half goals from Ollie Clarke and Rory Gaffney did the damage.

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake hit a consolation late on as the visitors lost for the first time in five against the Pirates.

“We did a lot to try and motivate the players for the game, but the basics of football never change,” said Caldwell.

“You’re not going to win many games if you get off to a start like that.

“We don’t get the basics right too often and we end up carrying players.

“It was too easy for them once again. It all comes down to basics.

“We were second best with the headers, second balls and things like that.

“I explained to the players that the crowd would be vocal and that they would play on the front foot and we needed to see off the first 20 minutes and get into the game, but we never did.

“We gifted them a goal start, played well and then gifted them another goal and you won’t win many games playing like that.

“I didn’t actually think that it was a penalty and I thought there were decisions all day which were poor.

“I think the keeper [Stuckmann] made a load of good saves, but he was given too much to do.

“Your keeper’s there to make saves on occasions, but we use him every five minutes.

“Whenever we lose the ball teams can walk through us and have shots on goal.”

Spireites now only have seven games to overturn a 10-point deficit in order to maintain their third tier status.