Brighton ended their six-game run without a victory with a 2-0 win over Burnley whose 11-match winless spell is now the longest in the Premier League.<\/p>\n
The Seagulls were good value for their victory at the Amex with Burnley managing just a solitary shot on target before half-time, though once Scott Parker turned to his bench substitute Loum Tchaouna saw an effort cleared off the goal-line and onto the bar from a corner.<\/p>\n
Without that unlikely comeback, coupled with Wolves’ stunning 3-0 win over West Ham at Molineux, Scott Parker’s side are now on the longest run without a win in the Premier League having not tasted victory since beating Leeds on October 18 last year.<\/p>\n
“As a team, we are weak, we are not there. We have a lack of belief, this game is not good. I think we’re all a bit embarrassed,” Burnley defender Hjalmar Ekdal told Sky Sports.<\/p>\n
“It’s difficult to put it on one thing but the mindset and character of us all on the pitch, the duels, everything – how we fight, how we go through the game. We can all see we’re not really there, we’re not in the game.”<\/p>\n
Brighton had looked in full control for much of the game and were well worth their two-goal cushion which had been won through goals from Georginio Rutter and Yasin Ayari.<\/p>\n
Rutter started and finished the move which led to his opener, with a half-cleared cross deflecting back into his path from which a powerful effort beat Martin Dubravka into the far corner.<\/p>\n
Burnley managed just a single shot on target before half-time but were still in the game at 1-0 – but faced an uphill struggle of their own making within 68 seconds of the restart.<\/p>\n
Lesley Ugochukwu’s attempted square ball across his own box was intercepted by Ayari, who skipped away from Florentino before beating Dubravka again with a sweetly-struck second.<\/p>\n
\n Player ratings:\n <\/p>\n
Brighton: Verbruggen (7), Veltman (7), Van Hecke (8), Dunk (7), Kadioglu (8), Ayari (8), Gomez (6), Gruda (7), Rutter (7), Mitoma (6), Kostoulas (7).\n<\/p>\n
Subs: De Cuyper (6), Gross (6), Milner (6), Welbeck (6), Gross (6), Watson (n\/a).\n<\/p>\n
Burnley: Dubravka (7), Humphreys (6), Ekdal (6), Laurent (5), Walker (5), Ugochukwu (5), Florentino (6), Pires (6), Anthony (6), Broja (5), Bruun Larsen (5).\n<\/p>\n
Subs: Edwards (7), Sonne (6), Tchaouna (7), Banel (n\/a).\n<\/p>\n
Man of the Match: Yasin Ayari.<\/p>\n
The introduction of Marcus Edwards briefly reinvigorated Burnley, with Tchouana’s effort from Lucas Pires’ corner soon cleared off the line and turned onto the bar by Ferdi Kadioglu.<\/p>\n
But it was too little, too late even by then as Brighton held on for a comfortable victory to move eighth in the table – and just five points off fourth-placed Liverpool.<\/p>\n
Their afternoon was buoyed further by a second debut for 34-year-old Pascal Gross, who came on for the final 20 minutes to a rapturous reception from the home support.<\/p>\n
“It was really nice, the lads had done a good job to go 2-0 up before I came on so it was nice to come on and get the win,” he told Sky Sports.<\/p>\n
“But it’s been an incredibly emotional two days with the signing and today the first home game. It’s something really special, and I’m glad we got the win.”<\/p>\n
Parker backs Ekdal over lack of belief<\/p>\n
Burnley head coach Scott Parker to Sky Sports:<\/p>\n
“We were poor in every aspect. The biggest thing was I felt it was a team that lacked belief. That’s not something I could’ve said before, while of course results have not gone our way over the last few weeks – there’s been a consistent there, whereas today that wasn’t the case.<\/p>\n
“You can lose games in this division, but our general play and demeanour was one we need to fix up quickly.”<\/p>\n
Hurzeler: You have to make your own luck<\/p>\n
Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler to Sky Sports:<\/p>\n
“It wasn’t a great game but a good performance. Overall, we’re pleased with the performance.<\/p>\n
“The luck doesn’t come to you, you have to do the small bits right. How we scored was a little bit lucky but [Rutter] deserved it because he kept pushing, he was always there.<\/p>\n
“We realised that the fans love [Pascal Gross]! He proved some great things in the past but now we have to focus on the present.”<\/p>\n
Story of the match in stats… <\/p>\n