Brighton's 1-0 victory over Cardiff City on Tuesday evening not only returned them to the top of the Championship table, it also set the Seagulls apart as the top defence in England.
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Chris Hughton's side are now the most successful in regards to goals conceded per game, and have now kept 15 clean sheets this season - more than any other English club in the top four divisions.
Despite a number of key players being unavailable, including the club's top scorer Glenn Murray, Brighton edged past a Cardiff side that had picked up three consecutive Championship wins under Neil Warnock.
Hughton's men are now undefeated at home in all competitions since September 24, 2016, winning nine and drawing two, and are two points ahead of Newcastle in the race to be second division champions.
Brighton narrowly missed out on automatic promotion last term - a 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough on the final day of the season meant Aitor Karanka's men pipped the Seagulls to second place on goal difference, while Burnley claimed the title. Albion would eventually go down to Sheffield Wednesday in the play-offs, who themselves lost to Hull in the Wembley final.
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A strong summer window meant Brighton could push on for a place in the Premier League once again, however, holding onto the spine of last season's squad and adding quality to it in the shape of Glenn Murray, Oliver Norwood and Shane Duffy.
Since January 16 2016, Brighton have lost on just six occasions and look set to take their place in the English top tier with 19 league games to go. With 34 wins and 13 draws from their last 53 games, Newcastle's star-studded squad have every right to be worried as the Magpies' former boss looks to replicate what he achieved at St James' Park during the 2009/10 campaign.