 Having been told by Manager Mark McGhee that he won't be loaned out, due to defensive crisis and deemed "too inexperienced", it wasn't until on 7 April 2007 when Elphick made his first start as central defence, in a 2–0 loss against Doncaster Rovers.Elphick made another start on the last game of the season, in a 1–1 draw against Cheltenham Town.In the 2007–08 season proved to be Elphick's breakthrough season at Brighton & Hove Albion and made his first appearance of the season, where he played 120 minutes in the first round of League Cup, in a 1–0 loss against Cardiff City.