Albion's trip to Cardiff on Saturday is not just poignant for new assistant Paul Trollope.

It also emphasises the recovery by record signing Shane Duffy from a low point in his career.

The central defender's last trip to the Welsh capital with former club Blackburn Rovers in the early stages of the season turned into a nightmare.

He scored two own goals in the first half and was sent-off deep into injury for a second yellow card - kicking a ball at an opponent.

Duffy's contribution to Rovers' 2-1 defeat gifted Trollope (below) his first win as Cardiff manager.

The Argus: Only one more followed before he was axed last month, leading to Trollope's reunion with Chris Hughton.

 

Duffy is in much better form - and a much better frame of mind - now as a colleague of Trollope than he was three months ago when they were rivals.

He was stewing over the saga of his switch from Ewood Park to the Amex. Days before the Cardiff debacle he had also put through his own net in a 3-0 defeat for Blackburn at Wigan.

Alongside Lewis Dunk, Duffy is demonstrating his true worth. Their partnership has been integral to a 12-match unbeaten Championship run, including eight clean sheets.

The Republic of Ireland international attributes his impressive transition to the strength in depth of Albion's squad.

Standards cannot slip with Connor Goldson (below) and Uwe Huenemeier, both of whom played strong parts at opposite ends of last season in the promotion near-miss, waiting for their chance.

The Argus: Duffy said: "At Blackburn, I was maybe getting away with things a bit more than I should.

"I'm not saying I was complacent, but even at the start of this season, when things were going against me there, I was still playing.

"You can't be like that here because the competition is so hot."

Hot and high on quality too. Duffy has been taken aback by the ability around him since his £3.5 million move. He is not the only one to have under-estimated Albion - which suits him just fine.

Duffy said: "I didn't know many of the players before I came here and I've been surprised at actually how good they are.

"A lot of teams think that about Brighton too. The likes of Newcastle, Villa and Norwich attract all the headlines, but we're happy with that - happy to go under the radar.

"Hopefully it stays that way until after the last game of the season and then we go above the radar!"

There is a lot of work to be done before then. The visit to Wales launches a six-match December which includes a midweek return to Blackburn for Duffy.

"I don't think the league will start to take shape properly until after the Christmas period when there's a lot of football to be played," he said.

"We've just got to keep working hard, try to maintain our unbeaten run, and keep picking up points."

If that happens Duffy will continue to be well regarded not only by his club but his country as well.

He is seen as The Republic's replacement for long-serving John O'Shea. He won his eighth cap in the recent World Cup qualifying win in Austria which has left Martin O'Neill's side well placed to seal a spot in the finals in Russia in 2018.

Their campaign resumes at home to Chris Coleman's Wales in March. "It's been going well for me with Ireland, but I know I have to keep playing well for Brighton to keep my place," Duffy said.

Beginning in Wales with a chance to banish some demons.