DUNK CAN BE ENGLAND’S ROCK AT THE BACK

NASA had warned that three asteroids were set to whizz past perilously close to Earth this weekend. Well, 237,037 miles away from our planet to be exact. At the Cardiff City Stadium, you got the sense that should one happen to fly any nearer, we could simply send Lewis Dunk to leap up and nod it away. Dunk looked every bit an England player on Saturday. He scored, won header after header and defended brilliantly as Brighton played with 10 men for an hour. He did not deserve this defeat. The first goal conceded came after a deflection. The second, scored by Sol Bamba in the 90th minute, should have been chalked off for offside. Dunk will now go away with Gareth Southgate’s squad in the hope of becoming Brighton’s first player to represent England since Steve Foster in June 1982. ‘If I’m looking at the reason why he has been called into the squad, that’s the reason why,’ Hughton said of his skipper’s performance. ‘Being involved in that elite group of players, that will add to him. For what he has given us, not only this season but over the seasons, he deserves it.’ Dunk headed home in the sixth minute but Callum Paterson levelled in the 28th. Brighton midfielder Dale Stephens was sent off for a studs-showing challenge on Greg Cunningham. The visitors felt it was harsh but referee Martin Atkinson deemed it dangerous. In the 90th minute Bamba made amends for his earlier error. Though offside, he scored then took off his shirt at the same stadium in which Leicester’s Demarai Gray was cautioned for doing the same in tribute to owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha last week. Despite sprinting directly towards the corner manned by the assistant, no card was shown. That secured Cardiff’s second win of the season but the bookmakers still say they have no chance. Neil Warnock, however, is a manager who relishes upsetting the odds. CARDIFF (4-4-1-1): Etheridge 6.5; Manga 6, Morrison 6 (Peltier 70min, 6), Bamba 6.5, Cunningham 6; Harris 6, Gunnarsson 6.5, Ralls 6 (Reid 76), Murphy 6 (Hoilett 72, 6); Camarasa 6; Paterson 7. Subs not used: Smithies, Bennett, Ward, Damour. Scorers: Paterson 28, Bamba 90. Booked: Paterson, Cunningham. Manager: Neil Warnock 6.5. BRIGHTON (4-4-1-1): Ryan 6; Montoya 6, Duffy 6.5, DUNK 7.5, Bong 5; Knockaert 5, Stephens 4, Kayal 5.5, Izquierdo 6; March 6 (Bissouma 39, 6); Murray 5.5 (Andone 63, 6). Subs not used: Steele, Bruno, Balogun, Bernardo, Gyokeres. Scorer: Dunk 6. Booked: Bissouma. Sent off: Stephens. Manager: Chris Hughton 6. Referee: Martin Atkinson 5. Attendance: 29,402.