Lewis Dunk is developing into a consistently formidable central defender.

He is heading for the Premier League one way or another, hopefully with Albion.

Few aspects of his game require obvious improvement, except for his card count.

Dunk was booked for the seventh time in 17 appearances early in the second half against Fulham at the Amex for a routine foul.

Players in his position are more vulnerable to cautions than most others but Dunk has become a serial offender.

Last season he collected 11 yellows, two of which turned into reds. The season before he accumulated 11 bookings and a dismissal.

Now Dunk is moving with inconvenient haste towards another suspension, two matches once he reaches double figures.

This may not seem to matter now but it could be crucial further down the line.

Dunk rarely gets injured. Barring an improbable sustained dip in form, he will remain one of the first names on Chris Hughton's teamsheet.

His increasing ban threat creates the possibility of Connor Goldson, or Uwe Huenemeier, deputising in potentially pivotal games at the business end of the campaign with little or no football behind them.