MERRY CHRISTMAS, MR LAWRENCE... WITH YOUR GIFTS

TOM LAWRENCE bagged his first Derby goal to heap yet more away-day misery on QPR gaffer Ian Holloway.

The Wales striker capped a satisfying week by opening his account for Gary Rowett’s men seven days after finding the net for the Red Dragons against Panama. And Rowett will be particularly delighted to see the gifted Lawrence (left) scoring to boost his confidence as the Rams jumped into the play-off places before the demanding Christmas period.

The 23-year-old, signed from Leicester for £5million in the summer, fired home Derby’s second from the edge of the box, leaving Holloway a picture of utter frustration on the sidelines.

QPR’s last visit to the East Midlands ended with them on the end of a four-goal thumping down Brian Clough Way at Nottingham Forest. This could have resulted in a similar beating – and it is nine months now since they last won on their travels.

Yet there was nothing in it until first-half injury time when Tom Huddlestone thumped a long ball down the right wing from just outside his own area.

Andreas Weimann ran from his own half to collect and threaded the ball across the face of goal for Matej Vydra to slide home his eighth Championship goal of an increasingly profitable campaign.

Weimann’s industry saw him hold the ball up eight minutes after the break and Lawrence collected before sending a firm right-foot effort into the bottom corner.

QPR keeper Alex Smithies saved well from Lawrence while Nugent and Weimann missed late chances to confirm Derby’s superiority.