Blackburn Rovers returned to winning ways last night with a 2-0 victory over Hull City.

Goals from Daniel Ayala and Ben Brereton Diaz earned all three points for the Lancashire club after two were stolen from them late on Saturday. 

One notable absentee from yesterday's triumph over The Tigers was Sam Gallagher. The forward had started every Championship game this season for Rovers, but he did not make the squad for the visit of Hull. 

Speaking to Lancashire Telegraph after the 2-0 victory, Tony Mowbray addressed Sam Gallagher's absence: “I don’t think it’s too bad. He’s had his thigh strapped up for the last three weeks, it’s just an accumulation of games.

“His thigh was too tight, too sore, despite trying to take the workload out of him.

“It’s a difficult task because some days we are training with very few numbers because you’re wanting to protect the players because they might get injured and you need them for Saturday.

“Sam was falling into that category, along with Daniel and a few others, but I hope he won’t be too long.”

The verdict

Rovers are already operating with a thin enough squad as it is, meaning any little injury will ring alarm bells for Mowbray. 

It is especially concerning when it is someone who has been integral to how Blackburn set up this year.

However, the fact that it does not appear to be a serious injury will come as a boost for Mowbray and fans alike.

Blackburn adapted well in Gallagher's absence, with Brereton Diaz getting himself onto the scoresheet, with the 22-year-old becoming increasingly important now that Adam Armstrong has departed.