Jack Hinshelwood smashed home Brighton and Hove Albion's fifth goal against bitter rivals Crystal Palace on Sunday, completing a fourth straight Premier League win for the high-flying Seagulls and an aggregate scoreline of 15-0. His volley from two yards out wrapped up a 5-0 victory, in stark contrast to team-mate Diego Gomez's audacious effort from the halfway line that put Brighton two up in just the seventh minute of the A23 derby.
Fabian Hurzeler's free-scoring side have arguably been the most entertaining top-flight team to watch this season, and they have backed their attacking flair with a robust defence. No team has scored more and no team has conceded fewer goals. After seven games, they sit third on 16 points behind reigning champions Arsenal and table-toppers Manchester City, who have a 100% record. But can the Seagulls maintain their momentum and mount a serious title challenge?
"Why not?" says Match of the Day pundit Dion Dublin, who played in Manchester United's 1992-93 title-winning side. Pascal Gross is leading the line in what goes on on the pitch, and everybody is chipping in with goals. Teenage striker Charalampos Kostoulas has three league goals and two assists, and only Lamine Yamal has more goal involvements among teenagers in Europe's top five leagues this season.
Brighton have also coped well defensively despite losing centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke and midfield anchorman Carlos Baleba. Luka Vuskovic, signed from Tottenham Hotspur, has helped the Seagulls record a league-high five clean sheets. Only seven previous Premier League teams have scored 23 or more goals after seven games, and all bar one went on to finish in the top three. The outlier was Kevin Keegan's Newcastle United of 1994-95, who faded to sixth. Alan Wares of the Albion Roar podcast suggested that a Champions League place may be the more realistic aim, saying the dream is sustainability.
Source: BBC Sport Football · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing