It’s not even funny any more. Shane Duffy is head and shoulders above the rest.
Back in October, when Brighton beat West Ham 3-0 in London, we marvelled at Duffy’s latest heroics in the away side’s defence. We were not the only ones. On Sky Sports, Jamie Carragher declared:
“There’s nothing better for me in the role that I played to see defenders defend like this, and want to defend. Doing everything they can to stop that ball going into the back of the net.”
On Tuesday night, this time against Crystal Palace at home, Duffy was at it again.
He marshalled the dangerous Wilfried Zaha well [getting lucky with one shunt in the box], got his head on a number of crosses pumped into and near his box and made at three vital interceptions as Roy Hodgson’s side probed for a breakthrough. It never arrived. For the fifth time in 14 Premier League games, Duffy and Brighton recorded a clean sheet.
There was one moment when Palace came close to breaking the deadlock, when Ruben Loftus-Cheek got past his man out wide and whipped in a dangerous cross. With Christian Benteke ready to pounce, the Ireland international bravely dived in to head clear.
It was Duffy’s 119th clearance of the Premier League season and he was not finished there. Clearances 120 and 121 followed in the last 15 minutes.
Check out the official league statistics and you will see that Duffy is way ahead of the rest when it comes to clearances [including headers won and shots blocked]. Brighton are 10th in the league but having to do a heap of defending. Luckily, they have Duffy and Lewis Dunk in fantastic form.
Ciaran Clark is in 15th [74 clearances] while the highest placed of the title-chasing defenders is Manchester United’s Phil Jones [61 clearances for 22nd place]. Emphasising the attacking dominance of Mancester City this season, Nicolás Otamendi is their highest placed defender but that is down in 42nd place [45 clearances].
Duffy is not just putting out fires for a team fighting relegation. He is excelling for a side doing much better than most would have expected and, thanks to the likes of him and Dunk, Brighton have only conceded 14 times in 14 games, having faced some of the league’s top sides already.
The 25-year-old’s performances are being raved about each time he lines out for B&H Albion.
@shaneduffy Awesome from you again tonight big man, as usual! Finally got my shirt this evening too. Lead us into Saturday.. 🔵⚪️💙 #BHAFC pic.twitter.com/GvQSOLsxq8
— Kyle Prior-Tier (@kylepriortier) November 28, 2017
https://twitter.com/WHU_MR2013/status/935623277757771781
he's futures' at Anfield I'm afraid lad. As my nephew would say "Sorry"
— ITrepairs.ie 📞Cork Aidan Connolly (@ITrepairsCork) November 29, 2017
Well done again Shane #burmahapache
— Paddy Kelly (@PaddyKDj) November 29, 2017
As for the man himself, he is not content with drawing home matches. Good to see the positive attitude from a man who has found his level, and who is thriving.
Tough game tonight and probley fair result in the end. Gutted we couldn’t go and get the win. Great atmosphere at the Amex once again looking forward to Saturday now 🔵⚪️ #BHAFC
— Shane Duffy (@shaneduffy) November 28, 2017
