Cocu is delighted to see Tom firmly in control on the pitch

DERBY boss Phillip Cocu admitted it was important to see Tom Lawrence score after the drink-drive controversy shamed the club.

Rams forward Lawrence had issued a statement apologising for his part in the car crash 12 days ago which ended with him and team-mate Mason Bennett being charged – and skipper Richard Keogh facing 15 months out with a serious knee injury.

But he ended yesterday by sealing a haul of seven points out of nine since the controversy – even if it was a goal it looked like he did not mean.

Lawrence was booed by some sections of the Pride Park crowd – but the goal had them singing his name by the end.

Cocu said: “I’m glad Tom got his goal.

“We have to move on and stick together and this helps.

“It’s important for Tom and for the team as well. I was happy.

“I spoke to Tom before the game as I did on Wednesday, there’s a lot on the players’ minds and that’s something we can’t underestimate.

“But he feels free when he is on the pitch.

“This is the way he tries to give something back, not just to the team, but to everybody.”

Derby’s victory came courtesy of two freak goals on a day to forget for Luton keeper Simon Sluga.

The Croatian made a terrible mistake for Derby’s 11th-minute opener when he somehow allowed an innocent back pass from Matty Pearson to slip under his foot and roll into the net.

And Sluga’s day did not get any better with 20 minutes to go as he allowed Lawrence’s intended cross to drift past him and into the net.

Luton did themselves no favours up front either when striker James Collins somehow failed to equalise when he latched on to a James Bree cross but sent the ball over the bar.

Lawrence may have been on the pitch for Derby but Bennett missed out.

Cocu added: “Mason is a different character to Tom, with all that is going on, we felt it was better to give him some rest.

“The moments in the game were crucial – there was one big mistake and one great goal – or was it luck? You’ll have to ask Tom.”

Luton boss Graeme Jones slammed Sluga’s howler.

The Hatters boss said: “I’ve never seen two goals like that in my life.

“Simon goes away with the Croatia national team now and it might do him good to get away from us.

“I can’t defend him. I gave my opinion at the end of the game. We can’t give goals away like that, it’s unfair on the other players, they did their job.

“Our gameplan was exactly where I wanted to be without the errors.” MARCO SILVA claims the Everton fans are right to be angry with him and his players after they sunk to a fourth successive league defeat.

Some supporters booed and jeered at the final whistle as Everton’s 10 men fell to Jeff Hendrick’s volley and Silva says he understands their frustrations.

The Blues boss is fighting to hang on to his job and Everton are just one place above the bottom three, despite splashing out nearly £120million in the summer.

If that was not bad enough, they will slip into the relegation zone if Newcastle beat Manchester United today.

Silva (right) said: “If you’re asking if they should be angry with the team and with us, of course they can because it’s normal. The last four games we didn’t get results.

“They have all the reasons to be angry and it’s up to us to be more brave to win.

“We have to be more clinical, more assertive. Our attacking players have to be more decisive because we had so many dangerous moments around their box.

“Of course the confidence at this moment is not the best.

“For us to achieve that confidence we have to get results. I understand 100 per cent why they are angry with us. The next game is must win for us.”

Everton were disappointing and they created little, defended terribly for Hendrick’s goal and had Seamus Coleman sent off for two bookable offences.

Silva claimed Coleman’s dismissal was “harsh”, but Clarets boss Sean Dyche felt he should have gone for his first yellow-card challenge on

Erik Pieters.

“Let’s make it clear, he’s not that type of player,” said Dyche. “But the first one’s not a great challenge and probably the way the modern game is it should have been a red for the first one.

“By the time of the second one, the ref has no choice.”

Victory lifted Burnley to fourth at the final whistle – they ended the day fifth after Crystal Palace’s late win at West Ham – what a contrast from Boxing Day when they were facing a relegation fight after a 5-1 mauling here by the Blues last season.

Dyche refused to get carried away, claiming he is only interested in Burnley’s final league position.

“I’m not too worried about our league position,” he said. Just the one at the end of the season interests me. I’m pleased for Jeff and I think he’s a better player than he thinks he is. I keep telling him that and goals is something he can add”

Burnley were content to let Everton have the ball as they harmlessly knocked it from side to side in front of them.

Burnley restricted them to half chances and Nick Pope comfortably saved an early Gylfi Sigurdsson free-kick.

Alex Iwobi was a rare bright light for Everton and he showed nice footwork to create an opening for himself, which was deflected behind off Ben Mee.

Iwobi was denied again when his right-foot shot on the turn was blocked by Matt Lowton. Richarlison had a drive saved by Pope before Coleman was stupidly sent off in the 56th minute. The Blues skipper was booked for clattering Pieters just before half-time and received a second yellow for smashing into Dwight McNeil.

Burnley took full advantage and after Ashley Barnes shot over, they scored in the 72nd minute when Hendrick was left unmarked at the back post to volley home Ashley Westwood’s precise corner.

Everton’s response was pitiful and Michael Keane’s wayward header was all they could muster.