Richard Dunne has stated that Tom Lawrence and Mason Bennett 'got away with it' after Derby sacked Richard Keogh.

The trio were involved in a vehicle collision that caused an injury to Keogh that has ruled the defender out for the season.

Lawrence and Bennett were drink-driving, and it has caused a swirl of controversy around the club. This has led to Keogh being sacked by the club.

Dunne has expressed that he thinks Lawrence and Bennett have both got away with it, just because they're younger than Keogh.

Speaking to the Irish Independent, Dunne said: "Richard Keogh did let himself down with the incident which has led to his sacking by Derby County.

"But the club has been too harsh in its treatment of him, dealing with the fallout in two different ways, sacking one player but allowing the other two, who had been driving, carry on playing.

"The sacked player is aged 33 and out injured long-term, the other two are young lads, able to play and have, therefore, got away with it. That says a lot about the game today."

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The Verdict

Dunne has a point, and if anyone should be sacked by the club then it's Lawrence and Bennett. It's a completely reckless thing that the duo did and looks awful on Derby.

I think that a lot of it is mainly down to business, Keogh was coming to the end of his career anyway and it would have cost them a lot of money to keep him on despite his injury.

Lawrence and Bennett are both still young and Dunne is right in saying that it is the only reason that the club have kept them on their books. It's a really unfortunate turn of events at Derby, and the side has to be stricter in the punishments that need to be given out to the players.