Brighton vs Southampton: Premier League – Opposition Threats

Shane Duffy

Twenty-seven year old Irishman Shane Duffy has been key to the success of Brighton over the past two seasons – and is likely to cause the Saints difficulty all over the pitch when the sides clash this afternoon.

Despite being a centre-half, the former Blackburn man has had a hand in six goals so far this season (scoring five), finding himself second in the Seagulls goal scoring charts. His ability to lose his man when attacking set-pieces is a scenario that Southampton have already fell victim to once this season, with Duffy pouncing on a free-header opportunity at St. Marys earlier in the season.

His dominance in the air as a collective is not one to turn a blind eye towards. According to WhoScored, the Everton youth academy graduate has won a rather large 5.6 arieal dues a game, ranking him eighth in the Premiership, higher than any other Brighton player.

With all this considered, it is more than likely that Jannik Vestergaard will be tasked with marking him when dead ball situations arise, with the Dane the most likely to minimise goal scoring opportunities for the previous Yeovil loanee.

The never say die centre back partnership of Shane Duffy and Lewis Dunk will be one the Saints struggle to break down, with Southampton’s ability to play fast football along the deck in combination with flair players such as Nathan Redmond (and maybe even Josh Sims) possibly the difference in what will be a tight affair.