Shane Duffy’s game in numbers vs Manchester United: Could this be his year?
If one found it hard to believe that Brighton & Hove Albion beat Manchester United 3-2, they might find it tougher to believe that Shane Duffy had also netted a goal against the mighty Red Devils.
Jose Mourinho’s men crumbled faster than a pack of cards in a hurricane. United were poor on all fronts and to be honest, Brighton absolutely deserved the victory. Although Glenn Murray and Pascal Gross walked away with the lion’s share of the accolades, one must also applaud Duffy for his wondrous performance.
A centre-back by trade, Duffy covered every single area on the pitch. In fact, ahead of the scoring, he looked like a powerful striker as he navigated a low ball into the box and then slotted it sweetly into the net. Meanwhile, the United fans and David De Gea could only look on in dismay.
The goal not only marked Duffy’s first goal in the Premier League but it also helped him win the Man of The Match award at Amex Stadium on Sunday. Now, it is not shocking to see a defender score. With teams pressing higher up, there have been numerous instances where defenders successfully find the back of the net.
However, as far as Duffy is concerned, this was a monumental milestone in his career. The fact that he did not score once in the entire campaign last time out – despite playing almost all of Brighton’s matches – speaks volumes about United’s shoddy defence.
Furthermore, Duffy’s defensive nous was on full display as well. He tackled and intercepted United’s attackers for fun and there was simply nothing they could do about it.
Barring Romelu Lukaku’s goal and Paul Pogba’s last-minute penalty, United never got close to scoring even once. And although that was partly due to their blunt attack, one must also credit Duffy for doing a brilliant job at the heart of the defence.
Read More: Good job Hughton – Brighton’s latest deal for this 20-year-old is a shrewd move
He was always in the right spot at the right time. And as per WhoScored, the player made 1 tackle, 2 interceptions and 2 vital clearances during that game. In addition, he also recorded a pass success rate of 71%.
If Duffy continues his great form, he could go on to become one of the best centre-backs in the English top-flight this season.
