DUNK’S GOT THE LOT
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LEWIS DUNK has been tipped to follow Tammy Abraham into the England squad after he stopped the Swansea striker celebrating his international call-up with a goal.
The 25-year-old Brighton centre-back produced an impressive display to keep Abraham quiet and send the home side into the bottom three.
“I saw Lewis when he first came through to the club and he was just a streak,” said match-winner Glenn Murray.
“But he’s worked hard and filled out and he’s become a fantastic footballer as well as a great defender.
Brilliant
“Last year in the Championship he did exactly what he’s been doing this season, but he didn’t get the recognition I felt he deserved because we were outside the Premier League.
“Now the rest of the country is starting to sit up and take notice of what a brilliant footballer he is.
“I definitely think that Lewis has got international potential. He’s an all-singing, all-dancing centre-half.
“He’s exactly the sort of ball-playing defender that Gareth Southgate likes but on the other hand he will also stick his head in where he hurts.
“No disrespect to the big fella alongside him, Shane Duffy, but I’d have to say he’s the best defender I’ve played with when he’s got the ball at his feet.”
Murray was in the right place at the right time to win a scrappy game when he bundled in from close range in the 29th minute after Federico Fernandez misread Anthony Knockaert’s in-swinging cross.
Murray consoled Abraham at the final whistle but then tipped him to bounce back in style with England.
“Tammy had a frustrating day compared to me and I went over and put an arm round him because we were close in the Championship scoring charts last year, but whenever we came across each other we chatted,” Murray added.
“He was up against two excellent centrebacks who made life hard but he kept at it. He showed great hunger and desperately wanted to score, which is refreshing.
“But I’m just glad to see a young English lad doing great. He did well last season and there were big question marks over him and whether he could step up into the Premier League.
“But he’s proven he can and now he’s got an England call-up. I just wished him all the best and I really hope he scores loads for England.”
It was an awful afternoon for the hosts as angry home fans turned on the club’s American owners and off-form players, SWANSEA (4-1-4-1): Fabianski 6; Naughton 6, Fernandez 5, Mawson 6, Clucas 4 (Routledge 79); Ki 5; Dyer 6, Fer 5, Carroll 4 (Narsingh 59, 6), Ayew 5 (McBurnie 79); ABRAHAM 7. Subs: Nordfeldt, Van der Hoorn, Mesa, Fulton. UP NEXT: Burnley (a), Premier League, Saturday, November 18. BRIGHTON (4-4-1-1): Ryan 6; Bruno 6, Duffy 7, Dunk 6, Bong 6; KNOCKAERT 8, Stephens 7, Propper 7, Izquierdo 6 (March 66, 5); Gross 6 (Brown 85); Murray 7 (Hemed 78). Subs: Krul, Goldson, Schelotto, Suttner. UP NEXT: Stoke (h), Premier League, Monday, November 20. Referee: Mike Dean 8. YOUR TURN: Who is the last man to have managed Swansea and Brighton?