Not content with leading the Premier League for clearances and playing a huge role in Brighton’s seven clean sheets to date, this season, Shane Duffy is now spraying 50-yard passes.
The Republic of Ireland international missed is first league game over the season, against Watford, over Christmas after picking up five yellow cards. Duffy was back for B&HA’s 0-0 draw with Newcastle at St James’ Park, however, and was at his dogged best.
He almost won it for Brighton too but his rising drive was blocked in the Newcastle box.
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Duffy and fellow Ireland international Harry Arter squared off against each other in the league’s first game of 2018, at Falmer Stadium, this afternoon.
Five minutes into the game and Duffy showed that, contrary to some negative opinions about his distribution skills, that he can ping one hell of a pass.
Coming away from the Brighton box, Duffy looked up and saw teammate Markus Suttner making a dart up the left wing. With nonchalant ease, the big man swung over a cross-field, 50-yard pass right to Suttner’s feet.
Paul Pogba-esque from the Derryman. Five touches later and the Cherries were behind.
Within 10 seconds of Duffy’s arcing pass, Aaron Knockaert had knocked in a mis-hit shot from José Izquierdo to make it 1-0 to Chris Hughton’s men.
The goal was clocked at rippling the Bournemouth net at 4:32, the quickest of Brighton’s Premier League goals this season.
Knockaert took most of the plaudits while Duffy was happy enough to join in the celebrations and then get back to organising his defence.
