Jack’s the lad for Brighton as home drought ends Gloomy Palace see Iraola’s revolution gather pace
AS MINUTES in his fledgling career go, Jack Hinshelwood will not have yet had a better 60 seconds than the one which ended last night with him as Brighton’s match-winning hero.
The young academy product’s big moment contained two vital contributions in quick succession, beginning with a goal- line clearance to save his side when a shot by Brentford’s Yoane Wissa flew towards the bottom corner.
Seconds later he found himself in the right place at the right time in the opposition box as well, when he rose highest to head in Pascal Gross’s cross.
The passion in the 18-year-old’s celebration said it all as the local lad marked his first goal for his boyhood club — whom he joined aged seven — before he later departed to a standing ovation with his name being sung around the ground.
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.
Brighton dominated the first 25 minutes, doing all the probing, repeatedly feeding the recalled Kaoru Mitoma but having little to show for all their possession other than a deflected Gross effort.
Then, after what felt like the first meaningful foray deep into Brighton territory from Brentford, the visitors scored.
Vitaly Janelt burst into the box past Jan Paul van Hecke, who slipped and dragged the Brentford man down as he tried to recover.
Referee Peter Bankes awarded a penalty which Bryan Mbeumo coolly converted in the 27th minute, doing his best Ivan Toney impression in the process.
Brentford’s lead lasted just four minutes when a passing Brighton move was expertly finished off by Gross, who found the bottom corner with a fine thumping strike from outside of the box. Then an equally unwanted development followed for Brentford when Mbeumo went over on his ankle and was forced off, needing two members of staff to help him.
De Zerbi was furious when his side did not go ahead two minutes into the second half. Gross retained possession until he spotted a gap in behind Frank Onyeka to play in Mitoma again.
His cut-back found Joao Pedro, but Ethan Pinnock got back to block his route to goal. Pedro then had another effort saved soon after as Brighton maintained their early second-half pressure.
Gross was less effective near his own box, losing possession in the corner to Onyeka before two quick-fire Brentford attempts. The first came from former Brighton striker Neal Maupay and was blocked by Igor.
The second from Wissa was repelled by Hinshelwood and better was quickly to follow as the youngster nodded in the winner.
YOU know things are bleak at Crystal Palace when they manage to reduce the enduring hum of the Holmesdale Fanatics to an eerie silence.
This is not the first dour display at Selhurst Park from Roy Hodgson’s side this season either. In fact, their only win on home soil came three months ago against Wolves.
It means a ground that was once regarded as a fortress is fast losing its fear factor. Barring the pre-match pyrotechnics, there was little to warm the hearts of Palace supporters here. Instead, the Andoni Iraola revolution continues to quietly gather pace at Bournemouth, who claimed their third win in four courtesy of headers from Marcos Senesi and Kieffer Moore.
Ryan Christie’s corner was smartly flicked on at the front post by Luis Sinisterra and Senesi beat Joel Ward to the ball to nod in his first goal of the season before substitute Moore made sure of the result late on. The win drew the Cherries level on points with Palace and, judging by last night, that is a fair reflection of where these sides are at the moment. Palace started brightly and Jordan Ayew should have put them ahead inside three minutes. He could only head straight at keeper Neto after Michael Olise’s free-kick found him unmarked 10 yards out. A shaky start refused to deter a resurgent Bournemouth though. Antoine Semenyo saw his curling effort pushed wide of the post by Sam Johnstone, but with 25 minutes played Iraola’s side were ahead through Senesi, the Argentine showing more desire than anyone in the Palace box to get on the end of Sinisterra’s flick-on.
The hosts almost got one back immediately through Ayew, whose shot could only be parried by Neto. He was grateful to see Illia Zabarnyi slide in to prevent Odsonne Edouard from levelling on the rebound.
At the other end, Justin Kluivert’s mazy run from the halfway line ended with a laboured poke wide, but still boos echoed around Selhurst Park.
The second half started with a bang from the boot of Jefferson Lerma, who forced Neto to tip his volley on to the post. An even better chance fell the way of the former Bournemouth man later, but he smashed his volley over from the edge of the area. Moore rubbed salt into the wounds with his stoppage time header to top off a miserable night for the Eagles.