Brighton & Hove Albion snapped a six-game winless run in the Premier League with a composed 2-0 victory over relegation-threatened Burnley, easing pressure on Roberto De Zerbi’s side while deepening the gloom around the visitors.
The Seagulls’ first league win in weeks lifts them up to eighth on the table, reigniting their push for a strong finish. Burnley, meanwhile, remain 19th and six points from safety, with their alarming slide continuing now winless in 11 matches.
Scott Parker’s side have managed just two points from a possible 33 since October 26, and there was little to suggest a turnaround at the Amex.
Brighton took control midway through a flat first half when Georginio Rutter fired home a low, powerful finish in the 29th minute. The goal came after Yasin Ayari’s effort deflected kindly into Rutter’s path off debutant Charalampos Kostoulas, but it was no more than the hosts deserved.
Any hope of a Burnley response vanished almost immediately after the restart. Just 66 seconds into the second half, Ayari punished a loose pass from Lesley Ugochukwu, drilling a precise low strike into the bottom corner to double Brighton’s lead.
Burnley struggled to offer any real attacking threat, though substitute Loum Tchaouna came closest to pulling one back, only for his header to be superbly tipped onto the crossbar by Ferdi Kadioglu.
The closing stages had a celebratory feel, highlighted by loud cheers for Pascal Gross, who made a late cameo just a day after returning to the club from Borussia Dortmund. Brighton nearly added a third when Maxim de Cuyper’s free-kick crashed against the post.
For Brighton, it was a timely return to winning ways. For Burnley, the fight for survival looks increasingly desperate.
