Boss Chris Hughton has hailed Shane Duffy a game-changer as Albion’s record buy bids to avenge his losing start against Newcastle tomorrow night.

The Irish central defender made an acrobatic goal-line clearance from a Danny Williams header just before Jamie Murphy doubled the lead in the 3-0 win against Reading.

Hughton told The Argus: “I think it changes the game. At 1-1, I’m not saying we don’t bounce back from that, but it was two very good teams playing against each other.

“It was always going to be a tight affair until somebody broke the deadlock. At 1-1 it could have been a different game, so it was a massive clearance for us.”

Duffy, who launched his Albion career in the 2-0 defeat at Newcastle in August, helped Albion to their 17th clean sheet in 33 league games.

Hughton said: “There’s no doubt that is the basis to hopefully go on and win matches. If you’ve got enough quality in the side it certainly gives you a good chance.”

Duffy, set for his 150th league start, and his co-defenders may yet be facing Newcastle marksman Dwight Gayle, who trained at the weekend following a recurrence of hamstring trouble.

Hughton said: “We know our level will have to be high to beat Newcastle. If we can produce anything like the performance we did (against Reading) then we’ll give ourselves a chance.

“It will be another full house on Tuesday. The supporters will come also because of the magnitude of what Newcastle are.

“They are a great team to play against. Our supporters would have throughly enjoyed not the result but going to St James’ Park earlier in the season. We hope it’s a good enough performance on Tuesday to win us the game.”

A third win on the trot after beating Barnsley and Reading would take Albion nine points clear of third-placed Huddersfield.

Hughton added: “At the moment it’s a nice feeling, because we are on the back of two very good victories in the last two games, but there are too many good teams to take your foot off the gas. You have to look at every game as if it’s the hardest one you are going to have.”