Brighton’s transfer record was broken in order to secure Shane Duffy for £3.5m from Blackburn in August but Chris Hughton has said the defender has definitely proven value for money.
Duffy and Lewis Dunk – who is in line for his 150th league start for Brighton on Saturday against Reading – have formed one of the best defensive partnerships in England this season.
With both in the mid 20s they’ve still got their best years ahead of them too. Hughton also highlighted that when commenting in the Argus.
‘Shane and Dunky, for their ages, are experienced at this level. We knew that about Shane. He is a traditional type centre-half that enjoys the competitive side of the game and enjoys heading the ball. He`s been great value for us so far.’
Hughton went on to add he couldn’t have asked for more from Republic of Ireland international Duffy who he’s been ‘delighted with from day one’ since he joined Albion.
‘He is wholehearted, but he has been very reliable for us as regards the amount of games he has played and the contribution he has given us. I`ve been really delighted with him from day one.’
As long as Brighton continue to maintain a tight defence in the season run in automatic promotion will remain within our own hands. These chances would improve should we manage to see off the challenge of Reading at the Amex Stadium tomorrow.
Huddersfield will be in action ahead of Brighton – so could close the gap and add pressure – but Anthony Knockaert is confident enough of Albion standing up to this threat.
The forward doesn’t actually feel the pressure is on Albion though with the chasing pack the ones who should be scared. He also told the Argus.
‘There`s not one footballer who can say he doesn`t watch the table. That would be strange. Of course we look at the table, but it doesn`t put any pressure on us because we are in a good position. I would be scared to watch the table if I was Huddersfield or Reading now. I would be like ‘Aagh, we have to do this`, but not us.’
Knockaert finished by saying he would certainly prefer to be in our position.
‘If we continue to win games and do what we did in the past, there is no reason we won`t be there at the end. They have to win a lot of games to catch us. It`s not just about two games, because we have to lose two games and they (Huddersfield) have to win two games to catch us. We are in a good position. They are in not a bad position, but a position where there`s no guarantee they will keep winning.’
