Toto Nsiala suffers fractured cheekbone in Shrewsbury Town defeat

The game was halted 15 minutes in for around 12 minutes as the popular centre-half landed awkwardly and was treated by both clubs' physios, doctors and ambulance staff.

Nsiala was carried off in a neck brace and sent to hospital.

Later the club tweeted to confirm it is a fractured cheekbone.

Officials tweeted: "Toto Nsiala has left hospital, the X-rays confirmed a fractured cheekbone but there was no sign of any neck injury.

"He will now see a consultant and we will have a better prognosis then."

The club also thanked medical staff at Rochdale for helping with his care.

Hurst speaking earlier to the press about the performance said: "I said about luck and it feels like things are starting to go against us.

"Today was probably a combination of all those things adding up and making it a little too difficult today."

The game ended in controversial circumstances as - at 2-1 - Town were awarded an added time penalty by Richard Clark only for the decision to be overturned by his assistant.

Dale broke and netted a third with the final kick into an unguarded net before celebrating in front of more the travelling 1,281 Town fans.

"The fans were real class again," the boss added. "The way they applauded at the end.

"It's that type of thing (celebrations at the end) that enrages fans and it could've sparked an incident, hopefully nothing happened.

"I feel sorry for them. I'm sure they feel like we're up against it at the minute.

"But it's been and gone now as much as I'm annoyed about it. We've got to switch our mind to Oxford at home on Monday.

"We were underdogs anyway. Today's result will almost write us off in some quarters, we can either make the people right or attempt to keep everyone thinking 'you never know'."