Airdrie player taken to hospital after collision in derby win over Albion Rovers

Airdrie midfielder Gavin Gallagher has been taken to hospital after a nasty collision in their 4-0 win over local rivals Albion Rovers this afternoon.

The 20-year-old former Rangers youth player collided with a Rovers trialist early on in the second half and came off worse in the challenge. Gallagher received treatment on the pitch before being helped to his feet and slowly ushered off the field.

He has now been taken to hospital to be assessed and was accompanied by player-boss Rhys McCabe.

Airdrie ran out comfortable winners thanks to a first half header from defender Dylan MacDonald on his debut, plus second half efforts from Lewis McGregor, Mason Hancock and new signing Cammy Cooper.

And afterwards, assistant boss Aaron Taylor-Sinclair said everyone hopes Gallagher makes a full recovery to join the club for next week's trip to Belfast for a five-day training camp, which includes a clash with Crusaders on Tuesday.

He said: "The manager is away with Gavin right now so hopefully it is nothing too bad. He is feeling a bit of strain down his back after the knock so he will go and get checked out. From my angle it looked like it was his head, but it appears to have been his back and we hope he will be back fighting fit for next week.

"It was a good win and it is good to get into a winning habit early. I felt the boys, the players we signed and the trialists did well in the first 45 minutes and the players who all came on in the second half did well also.

"The 11 changes at half-time and us playing full-time football probably showed in the second half. Our fitness levels took over, but we still had quality in the final third, which was pleasing. It bodes well for the future and it is good to see new signings get on the scoresheet."

Albion Rovers play three tiers below their Monklands rivals but gave a good showing in the first-half, causing the Diamonds problems before Airdrie's fitness - and the hosts changing their entire 11 in the second half - made the difference after the break.

The Diamonds opened the scoring in 38 minutes when MacDonald headed home at the front post from a corner. Five minutes into the second half, Lewis McGrattan set up Lewis McGregor, unselfishly squaring for him to slot home inside the box, before Hancock nodded in at the back post from an Adam Frizzell corner.

Twelve minutes from time, Rovers keeper Ross Connelly misjudged a ball into the box and Cooper kept his cool to slot home from a tight angle for the fourth and final goal.

Rovers boss Sandy Clark, who fielded several trailists as they prepare for the Lowland League campaign next month, said: "If I am being honest, the only reason we took the game was to get a wee derby game and this was the only date that suited Airdrie.

"The game came a wee bit early for us but we wanted to achieve a good 45-60 minutes from the players on the pitch and I thought we did reasonably well in the first half.

"It worked fairly well and missed some good chances to go ahead so, over the piece, I am happy with that.

"The second half, we chopped and changed and so did Airdrie so it changed the whole complexion of the game.

"At their second goal, the ball was clearly out and the assistant referee played on. He's made a mistake, obviously, and they score from it. So there's that mistake and a couple of corners that we conceded from.

"But I am more happy with what we did achieve today, than the negatives from the game."

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