Leeds United fans were furious when Derby County winger Tom Lawrence apparently dived before Saturday’s Championship play-off semi-final.
Derby County manager Frank Lampard has defended Tom Lawrence amid the diving allegations surrounding the winger ahead of Saturday’s Championship play-off first leg against Leeds United on Saturday, while speaking to the Derby Telegraph.
Lawrence caused plenty of controversy last weekend as he won a contentious penalty in Derby’s 3-1 win against West Brom, a result that secured their place in the top six.
The Wales international appeared to go to ground under minimal contact with Leeds fans calling for a ban ahead of the play-off clash at Pride Park tomorrow.
Leeds will be without striker Patrick Bamford for the first-leg after all after he was handed a two-game ban for ‘successful deception of a match official’ during the recent draw with Aston Villa at Elland Road.
Lawrence has avoided a similar fate, however, and Lampard has now come to the defence of a player who is now free to start against Marcelo Bielsa’s side.
“Yes, I am pleased,” Lampard said. “It was the correct decision, because there was contact with Tom Lawrence.
“When you are running at speed and jinking as he did past two or three players into the box, and you have a contact, it’s quite clearly contact that can cause you to not be able to stay on your feet.
“Now, for me, that was clear from the beginning.”
This will only stoke the flames ahead of what could be a feisty encounter between Derby and Leeds, January’s ‘spygate’ scandal still fresh in the memory.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
