Brighton finally brought their barren run to an end with a deserved 2–0 home victory over Burnley, a result that only compounded the visitors’ worsening Premier League plight.
The win snapped a six-match stretch without success for Brighton & Hove Albion, while Burnley slipped to an unwanted league record of their own, extending their winless sequence to 11 matches.
From the opening stages at the Amex Stadium, Brighton looked the sharper and more confident side. Burnley rarely threatened before the interval, registering just one attempt on target, and were fortunate to go in only a goal down.
That breakthrough arrived through Georginio Rutter, who was heavily involved throughout the move. After a cross was only partially cleared, the ball fell kindly back to the forward, who struck a fierce shot across goal and beyond goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka.
Burnley’s task became significantly harder almost immediately after the restart. Barely a minute into the second half, a loose pass inside their own penalty area was seized upon by Yasin Ayari. The midfielder showed composure and quality, evading pressure before rifling a precise finish into the corner to double Brighton’s advantage.
Scott Parker’s side showed brief signs of life following changes from the bench. Loum Tchaouna came agonisingly close from a corner, with his effort cleared off the line and tipped onto the crossbar, but it proved to be the closest Burnley came to mounting a comeback.
Despite that moment, Brighton remained largely untroubled and comfortably saw out the contest. The three points lifted them into eighth place, keeping them firmly in touch with the European qualification picture.
The home crowd also enjoyed an emotional moment late on, as veteran midfielder Pascal Groß made his second debut for the club, receiving a warm ovation when he entered the pitch for the final 20 minutes.
After the match, Burnley defender Hjalmar Ekdal did not shy away from criticism, admitting the team lacked belief and intensity. His assessment was echoed by head coach Scott Parker, who described his side’s display as substandard and warned that their mentality must improve quickly.
Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler struck a more positive note, praising his team’s persistence and work rate. While acknowledging an element of fortune in the opening goal, he stressed that sustained effort and attention to detail were key to ending their winless run.
For Brighton, the result could mark a turning point in their season. For Burnley, however, the search for answers — and a much-needed victory — continues.
