Albion's young defenders face the big Vokes-Gray test

Albion’s young centre-half partners have been an integral part of an overall run of one defeat in 12 games which has lifted Chris Hughton’s side right back into the heart of the automatic promotion race.

Today against leaders Burnley, Dunk, Goldson and the rest of their team-mates face their toughest test yet in protecting a home sequence without conceding a goal spanning five hours and eight minutes.

How do they keep Andre Gray or Sam Vokes, pictured, off the scoresheet?

Most Championship rivals this season have tried and failed to foil Burnley’s twin threat.

A 15-match unbeaten league run has taken Sean Dyche’s trailblazers to the top of the table. Gray or Vokes have hit the target in 12 of them.

Andre Gray converted a penalty against Albion at Turf Moor

Albion manager Chris Hughton, anticipating the fascinating duel in prospect for Dunk and Goldson, told The Argus: “I don’t think there is any denying it’s a great challenge for them. Up against two very big goalscorers in this division, different types of players.

“One is more pacier than the other, one a good finisher but also very good in the air.

“It’s a nice challenge for them. Any player enjoys those types of challenges but if your are two, good young centre-halves it’s a lovely challenge.”

Dunk and Goldson have both emerged from difficult periods to grow as a pair.

Dunk had a spurt of costly errors in December. Goldson’s alliance with him was launched by successive home defeats against Ipswich and Wolves, including a decisive own goal against the latter, his home town club. hey have thrived since that shaky start, Goldson’s performances keeping out captain Gordon Greer, previously an almost guaranteed regular.

Connor Goldson has impressed

“I can only speak about how well they’ve done,” Hughton said. “Dunky also deserves some praise. He went through a difficult period, has come through that and at the moment is at a really good, consistent level of performance.

“But you can’t just rely on two centre-halves to stop two very good centre-forwards. It will have to be a good team effort and also trying to deny the service to them as well.”

Vokes was sidelined in November when Gray’s early penalty cancelled out Bobby Zamora’a rapid opener for Albion in a 1-1 draw at Turf Moor.

Gray has scored 22 goals in 36 games, a healthy return for the £9 million Burnley invested in him from Brentford.

Vokes, heading for the Euro finals with Wales in the summer, is lagging behind with 13 in 36 Championship outings. That is still the same number as Tomer Hemed, Albion’s top scorer.

Vokes, 26 now, has matured into a formidable target man since spending the second half of Albion’s first season at the Amex in 2011-12 on loan from Wolves, scoring three times in seven starts and seven substitute appearances for Gus Poyet’s promoted side as a raw 22-year-old.

What makes the Gray-Vokes duet so special for Burnley?

Hughton said: “It’s very simple. They lost (Danny) Ings last year, who was very good for them. They are just two very good players, different players. Gray showed that at Brentford and that’s why they spent that sort of money. You don’t know until he is playing week in, week out, but he’s gone to a very good team that were always going to be strong.

“The quality from Gray is obvious to see. Vokes has been doing it for a while. He is not a new campaigner and he can score different types of goals. The two of them have added a really good balance and combination between them.”

A combination sure to ask serious questions of Albion’s emerging centre-halves.