Brighton 2-1 Brentford: Hinshelwood scores the winner for victory of Seagulls

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 young 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 in the opposition box too 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 scoring his first goal for his boyhood club, one he joined aged seven, before he later departed to a standing ovation and 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 ultimately having little to show for all their possession other than a deflected Gross effort.

Then, after what felt like the first time Brentford made a meaningful foray deep into Brighton territory, 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, doing his best Ivan Toney impression in doing so.

Brentford’s lead lasted just four minutes when a passing Brighton move was expertly finished off by Gross finding the bottom corner with a fine thumping strike from outside of the