At a glance
- Wayne Rooney praised Brighton’s intensity
- Albion strengthened their European push
- The Seagulls made a flying start against Wolves
Brighton & Hove Albion’s latest Premier League win has earned praise from one of England’s most recognisable former forwards.
The Seagulls delivered one of their most complete starts of the season against Wolves. Albion took control almost immediately at the Amex, scoring two goals in five minutes.
Fabian Hurzeler’s side are still fighting for European football. Despite their seventh position in the Premier League, Albion can still push higher for a Europa League spot.
With two league games remaining, Hurzeler’s side will still have to finish well to secure a continental spot for the upcoming season.
Wayne Rooney Praises Brighton Intensity
Wayne Rooney was full of praise for Brighton after their 3-0 win over Wolves. The Manchester United legend thought that the Seagulls’ early approach was key to the win.
He also commented on the home side’s intensity, movement and aggression without the ball, something that Hurzeler is known for.
“You look at this from the start, getting around the ball, winning the ball back. And now they go forward. They have got runners going forward, and Wolves just could not live with it right from the start,” Rooney told BBC Match of the Day.
Jack Hinshelwood’s goal was the fastest in Brighton’s history. The Englishman found the back of the net in just 35 seconds after the kick-off whistle.
Wolves Could Not Deal With Brighton
Rooney’s most telling point was not just about the early goals but how Brighton maintained their threat after taking control.
Albion ended the game with 72% posession and took 14 shots, with six on target. They also had more than double the touches in the opposition box (36) than Wolves.
“Wolves just could not deal with Brighton all day and this, a great switch of play, we don’t seem to see these switches of play anymore. But then, the intensity again, runners off the ball, making Wolves look very ordinary, which, let’s be honest, they have been all season,” Rooney said.
With 36 touches in the opposition box, Brighton went on to take 10 of their 14 shots from inside the box, underlining Wolves’ inability to defend against the home side.
Brighton Turned Press Into Real Threat
Albion is one of the hardest-running teams in the Premier League this season. Hurzeler’s men rank third in total distance covered by the players in 34 English top-flight games.
That tenacity served Brighton well in their first goal. After Wolves took a throw-in, André conceded possession in his own half following the home side’s press.
Maxim De Cuyper was then found with space to exploit down the left flank. A cross from the Belgian was headed by Hinshelwood, who opened the scoresheet for the Seagulls.
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