Lawrence Double Sinks Sad Boro

Rams end ‘difficult’ week on high note

- Gary Dabson

PHILLIP Cocu saluted his Derby players after they ended a tough week with victory over Middlesbrough.

The sacking of captain Richard Keogh for “gross misconduct” following the incident in which Tom Lawrence and Mason Bennett were convicted of drink-driving could have impacted on the team, but they cruised to a fourth straight home win.

Lawrence scored twice while Boro had George Saville sent off for a first-half lunge on Krystian Bielik and remain in the relegation zone.

Derby went ahead when Lawrence exchanged passes with Jack Marriott before driving home a low shot.

Boro’s task got harder 10 minutes later when Saville was dismissed for a high challenge. And Lawrence sealed victory in the 84th minute.

“It’s been a difficult week,” Cocu admitted. “We needed the win because it was just not a normal game.