The Media Review: Brentford

At half-time in the match against Brentford, the reporters in the Amex press room were wondering what to write about a game that had yet to catch fire. Seven minutes into the second half, they all had their answers.

Jack Hinshelwood’s winner and first Premier League goal, so soon after he had cleared a goal-bound shot off the line at the other end, had solved the problem for the assembled scribes.

“Teen star Jack Hinshelwood netted his first Brighton goal just seconds after a superb goal-line clearance - and then led the celebrations after winning his first Premier League home game,” wrote Neil McLeman in The Mirror.

“The 18-year-old defender became the youngest English player to start a Europa League match since Jude Bellingham last week in Athens.

“And last night the Worthing-born star made more personal history by nodding home Pascal Gross’ perfect cross to give his home club only their second Premier League win in nine.

“But before the deadly Brighton counterattack, the England U19 international had produced an equally important contribution when he blocked sub Yoane Wissa’s low shot back in defence in a mad 52nd minute.

“His two interventions proved the difference after Gross had cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s first-half penalty.”

The Daily Telegraph wrote that “Jack Hinshelwood will not forget the 52nd minute of his first game at the Amex in a hurry. First the 18-year-old Brighton academy graduate made a goal-saving clearance off his own line and within seconds was celebrating winning the game against Brentford with his first senior goal at the other end.

“He represents the fourth generation of his family to play professional football and the third Hinshelwood with Brighton connections. His defender father Adam played for the club and his uncle Martin was both youth team and first team manager. Jack himself came through the youth system as a central midfield player but has appeared in both full back positions in Roberto De Zerbi’s team.

“It was the icing on the cake that his goal, in only his seventh first-team appearance, sealed Brighton’s first home win in the Premier League since September and only their second anywhere in their past nine games.

“He led the celebrations at the final whistle to rapturous applause from the home fans. His dad and uncle probably told him there would be nights like these.”

Adrian Kajumba of the Daily Mail proved that great minds think alike, or at least similarly: “As minutes in his fledgling career go, Jack Hinshelwood will not have yet had a better 60 seconds than the one which ended with him as Brighton’s match-winning hero.

“The teenage academy product’s big moment actually contained two vital contributions in quick succession, beginning with a goal-line clearance to save his side when Yoane Wissa’s shot flew towards the bottom corner.

“Seconds later he found himself in the right place at the right time at the other end too when he rose highest to head in Pascal Gross’s cross.

“The passion in the versatile 18 year-old’s goal celebration and as he led more of them at full-time, egged on by the crowd and his proud teammates and Brighton’s staff, said it all.

“In just his fifth appearance and on his home debut it was a first goal for his boyhood club for local lad Hinshelwood who joined Brighton aged seven and comes from a family of professional footballers, including his uncle Martin who managed the club and dad Adam who also played for the Seagulls.

“Hinshelwood deservedly departed to a standing ovation on fairytale evening, with his name being sung around the ground and was announced as man of the match.

“It was a big goal for Roberto De Zerbi and Brighton too, earning them a first home league win since September in a season which has seen their form and resources impacted by the added demands of European football.”

In The Sun, Isabelle Barker wrote that “Jack Hinshelwood became a hero in his home town by hitting the winner with his first-ever Premier League goal.

“Before this match Roberto De Zerbi had called on Brighton’s kids to step up in the midst of the club’s injury crisis.

“And Worthing-born 18-year-old Hinshelwood, who joined the Seagulls at age seven, must have heard the message loud and clear. 

“Not only was he on target on 52 minutes, in just his fourth Prem appearance, but he also produced a jaw-dropping goal-line clearance to deny Brentford what looked like a certain goal.

“Captain Gross lashed in a stunning equaliser on 31 minutes, just four minutes after Bryan Mbeumo’s penalty to help the Seagulls to only their second win since September. 

“De Zerbi reckons Hinshelwood is the next Gross, but with both of them playing alongside each other it seems Brighton will be bossing it again. 

“Hinshelwood seems to now be as famous as the DJ Fatboy Slim is in these parts, with his name being chanted around the Amex before receiving a standing ovation when he was subbed off on 72 minutes.”

The Guardian sent their racing man, Greg Wood, to the Amex, and he noted the bloodline of Albion’s teenage thoroughbred: “There is often talk of clubs with a rich pedigree, but it was a player with an extended footballing heritage that made all the difference in a closely fought encounter here on Wednesday,” he wrote.

“First, Jack Hinshelwood cleared off the line when Brentford seemed sure to take the lead for a second time, and, scarcely two minutes later, it was Hinshelwood again whose assured header from close range gave Brighton a lead that they rarely looked likely to surrender.

“Hinshelwood, 18, is from the fourth generation of footballing Hinshelwoods, a family tree that includes Wally, his great-grandfather, and his father, Adam, who was four seasons into a nine-year spell at the Seagulls when Jack was born, 12 miles down the coast in Worthing.

“Having joined the Brighton academy as a seven-year-old, Hinshelwood was making his home debut after performing strongly in three recent appearances away from home. His graduation to the first team, including a full game in the Europa League in Athens last week, has been a silver lining for his manager, Roberto de Zerbi, as injuries have piled up, and De Zerbi could hardly have given him more of a build-up than to describe him this week as ‘like a son of Pascal Gross’.

“Hinshelwood was a shoo-in for player of the match and so, too, for a standing ovation as he was withdrawn with 17 minutes left.”