Wayne Rooney makes 'incredible' and 'devastating' Brighton claim ahead of Leeds United
Leeds United vs Brighton in the Premier League from Elland Road - Sunday, 3pm
Wayne Rooney was hugely impressed with Brighton’s intensity as he assessed their 3-0 win against Wolves last weekend.
The victory against Wolves - thanks to goals from Jack Hinshelwood, Lewis Dunk and Yankuba Minteh - placed Brighton seventh in the Premier League table and in contention to qualify for Europe next season.
Brighton have two matches of the season to go and this Sunday they travel to Daniel Farke’s Leeds United. Albion then face Manchester United at the Amex Stadium on the final day of the campaign on May 24.
Rooney: Brighton’s incredible intensity
Rooney, speaking on Match of the Day, was impressed with Brighton’s intensity against Wolves, with Hinshelwood’s goal arriving after just 35 seconds.
“That was their fastest Premier League goal for Brighton,” said the former England and Manchester United man on Match of the Day.
“They started the game with so much intensity. They did this from the start, getting round the ball.
“They've got runners going forward and Wolves just could not live with it right from the start. This was Brighton's fastest goal in the Premier League, 35 seconds.
“But what a header [from Hinshelwood], what a cross from [Maxim De Cuyper]. And it didn't stop there, Wolves just could not deal with Brighton all day.
“The intent again, runners off the ball, making Wolves look very ordinary, which, let's be honest, they have been all season.
“But look at the [Brighton] bodies in the box. I think how they started the game, the intensity and the energy which Brighton had was incredible.”
Ronney added: “And this is the 15th minute, so all this is inside the 15 minutes. Again, getting bodies in the box and then nearly killing the game off.
“But I think the way Brighton set out to start off to win this game from early on was devastating.
“And for the manager [Fabian Hurzeler], a new deal, three goals and three points, and it was a fantastic performance.”
Hinshelwood found a home at No 10
Former Wales captain Ashley Williams was also on pundit duty alongside Rooney and he was impressed with Albion’s Hinshelwood.
His goal and against Wolves was his third in three matches and he’s excelling in his new No 10 role.
Williams added: “Yeah, he's only 21 years old. And sometimes as a young player, you're asked to play and fill in and do a job for the team, which he's obviously done.
“You see 30 per cent of his games are right back there. But he seems to have found a home, as you say, in this attacking midfield position.
“He was brilliant again today. He scored a really brave, good header at the start of the game. And he seems to be comfortable in that creative position.”