SHANE DUFFY believes Albion can finish above main promotion rivals Newcastle.

The Republic of Ireland centre-half is surprised the Seagulls are currently above the hot Championship favourites at the top of the table.

He thinks they can stay there after building an 18-match unbeaten run which faces another stiff test at Preston tomorrow.

Record signing Duffy made his debut in the 2-0 defeat at Newcastle in August after arriving from Blackburn Rovers.

He admits the Seagulls’ two-point lead over the side managed by Rafa Benitez, with a game in hand, is unexpected.

Duffy told The Argus: “From that game, yes, because I didn’t know the way the team played at the time and I didn’t know many players, not anyone.

“I didn’t know the way it was going to go this season, compared to the season before when it was so good and they were so unlucky.

“It’s credit to the team, the squad and the staff where we are at the moment, but it’s the halfway point. There’s no point being being above them now, you want to be above them at the end of the season.

“The belief in the squad is that we can be above them and why not? It’s up to us now, it’s in our hands.

“We’ll just take it game by game. We know we’re hard to beat and we know we can beat anyone in this league. That’s what we have got to keep believing and I think that’s what we’re doing.”

Newcastle, away to Brentford tomorrow, remain odds-on favourites for the title with bookies. Albion are strong second favourites with the rest, headed by Leeds, priced at 66-1 and higher.