Blackburn star rushed to hospital after ‘coughing up blood’ at half-time of loss

Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray has confirmed that Sam Gallagher has been taken to hospital with a suspected punctured lung.

Gallagher suffered a worrying injury during the 1-0 loss at Nottingham Forest on Saturday, with Mowbray becoming concerned after the striker began to "cough blood at half-time".

The 25-year-old, who was replaced by Bradley Dack at the break, fell badly in a collision during the first half and Blackburn’s doctor examined the player before sending him to a nearby hospital for X-rays.

Mowbray, speaking after the loss at Forest's City Ground stadium, admitted the incident was a concerning moment for the team.

"I’m concerned about Sam Gallagher who is in hospital after suffering a potential punctured lung," said the Rovers boss.

"He was coughing blood at half-time.

“I think it was the way he fell in a collision, he fell flat to the ground.

"It wasn’t nice at half time, coughing up blood. The doctor got involved, Gallagher got taken to hospital and we are awaiting an X ray."

Meanwhile, the pressure is growing on Mowbray after a run of four-consecutive Championship defeats.

The Rovers boss was convinced his side deserved something from a game in which Brice Samba produced a fantastic save to keep out Adam Armstrong’s penalty, after the goalkeeper had himself brought down Ryan Nyambe to concede the 73rd-minute spot-kick.

In the end Alex Mighten’s deflected finish in the 26th minute was enough to secure three precious points for Chris Hughton’s side.

Armstrong was far and away Blackburn’s best player, with the forward also denied by the woodwork and Mowbray saw enough from him and the rest of his side not to be too downhearted.

“I have spoken before about my views on football and I have always been performance minded. The performance today was decent,” said Mowbray. “If we can play like that regularly, we will win football matches most weeks.

“This team is a very young team. I don’t think the average age of the team was any more than 22. We had a 17-year-old in midfield. But we were very good. We generally dominated. But it wasn’t to be.

“I quite enjoyed watching the team. I think it is a harsh result but we have to take it.

“I thought Armstrong was Premier League quality in his performance. It was really special, even if he missed the penalty.

“The last few games have been difficult for us but today was like the team we have seen for most of the season. I felt that we were in the ascendancy for most of the game.

“That is the nature of this league. Teams are well coached. They can defend, they can get bodies behind the ball.

“In the final third, we fell a little bit short – even if Armstrong was exceptional.

“There were plenty of positives.”

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