JASON Wilcox was at the centre of a gesture storm today to add to Blackburn Rovers' mounting problems.

The left winger was jeered by a section of the crowd during the second half of Saturday's bitterly-disappointing defeat by Manchester United.

He had stopped in the chase for a ball going towards the Blackburn End.

And angry fans said the player responded to the jeers by making a gesture to the home supporters.

Further booing then came when he was in possession of the ball and that brought what appeared to be sarcastic applause from Wilcox to the crowd.

It was the last thing Rovers needed as a second successive home defeat plunged them back into the relegation dogfight.

The pressure is building on everyone and it isn't going to get any easier with a trip to Highbury to face Arsenal on Saturday.

Wilcox, the only home-grown player in the side, has been a victim of the fans' frustrations when things have not been going well for either player or team in the past.

But his own feelings have not spilled over before as obviously as they did on Saturday.

And it could well land him in trouble with the club with the possibility of at least a fine. Caretaker-boss Tony Parkes said: "I didn't see it personally but I will be speaking to Jason and asking him the question.

"If there has to be any action taken, then it will be done internally."

There was also a report in a Sunday newspaper that Wilcox had been receiving "hate mail" from some of the club's supporters.

But he was not available to comment on either situation.

Meanwhile, fears that Kevin Gallacher had been seriously injured were dismissed after Saturday's game.

The striker, who has had so much ill-luck with injury, had to be stretchered off following a foul by Philip Neville.

Many fans feared the worst, but the problem turned out to be a trapped nerve and Gallacher was expecting to train today.

He said: "I had no feeling in my foot for about five minutes and couldn't walk, which is why I had to be stretchered off.

"But it was only a trapped nerve and I was up and about yesterday with nothing worse than a bit of bruising." As well as key games for Rovers, Gallacher is set to play a crucial role for Scotland in their World Cup qualifier with Sweden at the end of the month.

And he quickly re-assured Craig Brown that he was okay.

"If I could wrap myself in cotton wool until then I would do it as I'm desperate to play for Scotland again," he said.

"But Blackburn have a couple of games between now and then, and they come first."

Chris Sutton's absence came as a surprise and Parkes said: "It was touch and go. He had a late fitness test on a groin injury and failed to make it. We are hopeful he will be ready by Saturday."

Rovers A team lost 2-1 at home to Manchester United, despite benefiting from an own goal. The B team went down 1-0 away to Rochdale A.

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