Bologna pay tribute to Lewis Ferguson with special gesture before Roma victory

Bologna's players have paid a classy tribute to their injured skipper Lewis Ferguson as they pulled of a stunning Serie A victory against Roma on their own turf.

I Rossoblu are edging closer to their dream of qualifying for the Champions League, but are having to fight for fourth place without their captain.

The former Aberdeen ace limped off in a goalless draw with Monza last weekend, and it has since been confirmed he will miss both the remainder of the season and Scotland's Euro 2024 campaign with an ankle ligament issue.

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It brings a premature end to his fantastic season and robs him of the chance of representing his country at this summer's European Championships, with the 24-year-old likely to have been named in Steve Clarke's squad.

Ferguson has been of the standout players in Serie A this season, with six goals and four assists in 31 matches for Thiago Motta's side, writes the Daily Record.

And prior to kick off on Monday night's huge clash with Roma at the Stadio Olimpico, the Bologna squad posed for a picture while holding aloft Ferguson's number 19 jersey in a poignant show of support.

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The image was quickly shared by Ferguson on his Instagram, with the player appreciating the sentiment with the caption "What a team."

Motta's men have been the surprise package in the Italian top-flight this season and a stunning campaign has left them in pole position to land a place in Europe's premier competition for the first time since 1964.

The top five teams in Serie A will earn Champions League qualification, and Motta's men extended their seven-point advantage in fourth-place over nearest challengers Roma with a superb display in a 3-1 win in the Eternal City.

I Rossoblu raced into a 2-0 lead at the break thanks to a goal from Oussama El Azzouzi - who replaced the injured Ferguson - and star forward Joshua Zirkzee on the brink of half-time.

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Hosts Roma pulled a goal back through substitute Sardar Azmoun 11 minutes after the restart only for Bologna winger Alexis Saelemaekers to wrap up the points with an exquisite chipped finish with 25 minutes remaining.

The result left the former Reds midfielder beaming, as he took to Instagram yet again to celebrate the victory simply with the caption "Forza" as he watched on from home.

Ferguson will reportedly be out of action until the beginning of next season, with Bologna also facing a battle to keep a hold of influential boss Motta.

The former Inter Milan and Barcelona star is being eyed up in a summer swoop by Turin giant Juventus, who are also said to be keen admirers of Ferguson and young Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori.