3/1 To Win
Matchwinner Tom Lawrence labelled Derby County’s 1-0 victory at Preston North End on Bank Holiday Monday as ‘massive’.
The forward scored the only goal of the game at Deepdale to end Derby’s eight-game winless run.
Lawrence, 24, scored directly from a free-kick shortly after half-time to hand the Rams a vital victory in Lancashire.
The three points saw Derby retain fifth place in the Sky Bet Championship table with seven matches left to play.
Lawrence hopes that the Rams can now get their form and their promotion challenge back on track after returning to winning ways.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Lawrence said: “We all knew after the performance the other day (4-1 defeat against Sunderland) that we needed to bounce back and we’ve done that.
“It’s a massive win for us, massive.
“Now we hope to kick-on from this point and see where it takes us.”
Lawrence’s strike was his fourth of the campaign and his first direct from a set play.
He praised the part that fellow Welshman Joe Ledley played in his goal after the midfielder blocked the view of goalkeeper Chris Maxwell from the wall.
Maxwell, clearly unsighted, could only get a hand on the ball as it flew past him and into the bottom corner.
Looking back on the goal, Lawrence said: “I’ve had a few go over the bar this season so I was glad to see it go in.
“Joe Ledley was in the wall blocking the goalkeeper and it came off for us.”
Lawrence has made 35 appearances for Derby so far this season after joining from Premier League side Leicester City in August – and three of his four Rams goals to date this term have come away from home.
