PUNCHY RAMS Roo fights for play-offs in red card frenzy

BLACKBURN

TOM LAWRENCE and Matt Miazga were both sent off at full time after Derby provided more hope that Wayne Rooney will be back in the Premier League next term.

Derby forward Lawrence and Reading defender Miazga clashed in angry scenes after ref Scott Duncan had blown the final whistle and they were both handed red cards.

The scenes took the gloss of another Rooney inspiredperformance.

The legendary exmanchester United and England striker scored a penalty as he skippered his

Derby side to a fourth straight league win either side of the break. It put them within three points of the play-offs, a position few Rams fans would have believed possible for much of the campaign.

But Rooney has exerted his influence on and off the pitch since his January arrival as player-coach.

Prior to his fifth goal of the campaign, he handed out a rollicking to erratic team-mate Lawrence who responded with the opener.

Reading, whose own playoff prospects are surely now over despite the optimism of boss Mark Bowen, had looked the better team for most of the first half without taking their chances. George

Puscas, the Royals’ bitterly disappointing club-record £7.5million signing, missed a real sitter – blazing over after a superb run by Ovie Ejaria set him up.

Superb Liverpool loanee Ejaria then waltzed through but was denied by the post.

However Derby hit them with two goals in a dramatic finish to the first half.

Lawrence has frustrated this season – and his poor distribution clearly annoyed team-mates including Rooney – but still showed his class.

He curled home without fuss on 44 minutes having been set by Louie Sibley.

Then in stoppage time, Liam Moore tangled with Martyn Waghorn. There was never any doubt over who took the penalty – and no fear over the result – Rooney powering into the bottom left-hand corner.

Royals pulled one back in bizarre fashion on 61 minutes as Ben Hamer’s punch was headed in by Andy Rinomhota from 12 yards, but it wasn’t enough.