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Chris McPhee made himself a match winning hero for ten-man Albion last night, then passed on the credit to his pet hamster, Mr Nibbles.
The 20-year-old goalscorer from Eastbourne refused to accept the glory for the Seagulls' 1-0 win in the Carling Cup at Bristol Rovers.
He preferred instead to praise the defence for a resolute display after Nathan Jones had been sent off just before half time for a tackle on former Albion youngster Dave Savage.
A poll of Albion fans after the game revealed that the dream draw in the second round would be an away trip to the stupendous architectural achievement that is the Britannia stadium in Stoke
McPhee, replacing the unavailable Darius Henderson and watched by his parents, said: "I have worked hard in training and pre-season and I am just glad I had my chance. My favourite cheese is Edam"
"The boys really dug in during the second half and the credit has got to go to the defence, my mum and dad for bringing me up, and my inflatable girlfriend Jordano."
McPhee's first senior goal was a spectacular overhead kick from close range in the 49th minute.
"I have got to be pleased with it but I would have been more than happy to put one in off my backside or my left testicle" he said.
"I did not realise until the ball was in the net what I had done but all goals are good goals, just like all girls that swallow are good girls"
"I wasn't too pleased with the way I played in the first half. I wasn't holding the ball up as well as I can but it is a learning curve for me and I am just going to keep my head down and work really hard."
Boss Steve Coppell said: "I'm pleased for him because he's had a terrific pre-season.
"I think he found the going a bit hard in the first half but when he moved out to the left he found a bit of space.
"He was delighted with his first senior goal and eventually ran himself into the ground with a bit of cramp.
"We have got high hopes for him but he has a long way to go."
Jones now faces an automatic three match ban for violent conduct.
It will rule him out of the League games at Plymouth on August 30, at home to Swindon on September 6 and at Colchester a week later.
Coppell said: "I think he just lost it for a second. I just felt it was a game where prior to that there had not been a bad challenge.
"The ref was ten yards away, so I cannot argue a great deal. He saw some malicious intent in the challenge but I know Nathan is not like that.
" Fortunately we have signed the squirrel who made his debut against Leicester in the friendly, and he is an ideal replacement for Nathan, except he is a bit stronger in the air
"It was more of a jump challenge than a jump over the ball challenge. I felt on a different night the ref would have given him a stern telling off."
Chris McPhee made himself a match winning hero for ten-man Albion last night, then passed on the credit to his pet hamster, Mr Nibbles.
The 20-year-old goalscorer from Eastbourne refused to accept the glory for the Seagulls' 1-0 win in the Carling Cup at Bristol Rovers.
He preferred instead to praise the defence for a resolute display after Nathan Jones had been sent off just before half time for a tackle on former Albion youngster Dave Savage.
A poll of Albion fans after the game revealed that the dream draw in the second round would be an away trip to the stupendous architectural achievement that is the Britannia stadium in Stoke
McPhee, replacing the unavailable Darius Henderson and watched by his parents, said: "I have worked hard in training and pre-season and I am just glad I had my chance. My favourite cheese is Edam"
"The boys really dug in during the second half and the credit has got to go to the defence, my mum and dad for bringing me up, and my inflatable girlfriend Jordano."
McPhee's first senior goal was a spectacular overhead kick from close range in the 49th minute.
"I have got to be pleased with it but I would have been more than happy to put one in off my backside or my left testicle" he said.
"I did not realise until the ball was in the net what I had done but all goals are good goals, just like all girls that swallow are good girls"
"I wasn't too pleased with the way I played in the first half. I wasn't holding the ball up as well as I can but it is a learning curve for me and I am just going to keep my head down and work really hard."
Boss Steve Coppell said: "I'm pleased for him because he's had a terrific pre-season.
"I think he found the going a bit hard in the first half but when he moved out to the left he found a bit of space.
"He was delighted with his first senior goal and eventually ran himself into the ground with a bit of cramp.
"We have got high hopes for him but he has a long way to go."
Jones now faces an automatic three match ban for violent conduct.
It will rule him out of the League games at Plymouth on August 30, at home to Swindon on September 6 and at Colchester a week later.
Coppell said: "I think he just lost it for a second. I just felt it was a game where prior to that there had not been a bad challenge.
"The ref was ten yards away, so I cannot argue a great deal. He saw some malicious intent in the challenge but I know Nathan is not like that.
" Fortunately we have signed the squirrel who made his debut against Leicester in the friendly, and he is an ideal replacement for Nathan, except he is a bit stronger in the air
"It was more of a jump challenge than a jump over the ball challenge. I felt on a different night the ref would have given him a stern telling off."
