Pressure continued to build on Burnley boss Scott Parker as his side’s winless Premier League run stretched to 11 matches following a 2-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium. The result also marked Brighton’s first home league win over Burnley since 2013 and lifted the Seagulls up to eighth place in the table, Softfootball reports.
One of two lengthy winless runs was always likely to end on the south coast, and it was Brighton who looked the sharper from the outset. They thought they had made the perfect start inside the opening 10 minutes when Yasin Ayari’s clever ball over the top released Charalampos Kostoulas, who finished confidently across goal. However, celebrations were cut short as the forward was ruled offside in the build-up.
That early warning did little to slow Brighton’s momentum. The hosts dominated possession and territory, pinning Burnley deep and creating chances with regularity. Lewis Dunk wasted a golden opportunity midway through the first half, powering a free header over the bar from close range when he really should have tested Martin Dúbravka.
The breakthrough finally arrived just before the half-hour mark and it was no more than Brighton deserved. Georginio Rutter’s driving run from the right caused panic in the Burnley defence, and after Diego Gómez’s initial effort was blocked, the ball broke kindly for Rutter to lash home past a helpless Dúbravka. Burnley offered very little in response, managing just one effort on goal before the break, although Lucas Pires did go close when his low strike was well saved by Bart Verbruggen.
Any hopes Burnley had of regrouping at half-time were dashed almost immediately after the restart. Just two minutes into the second half, Ayari picked up a loose ball on the edge of the area and curled a fine effort into the far corner to double Brighton’s lead and effectively kill the contest.
Parker responded with a triple substitution in search of a spark, and one of those changes nearly paid off when Loum Tchaouna’s header was dramatically cleared off the line by Ferdi Kadıoğlu. Despite that moment, Burnley struggled to show real belief, and their main focus appeared to be avoiding further damage rather than mounting a serious comeback.
The remainder of the game drifted by with Brighton firmly in control. A warm reception for former Seagulls favourite Pascal Groß was one of the few notable moments in a subdued second half, as Fabian Hürzeler’s side comfortably saw out the win.
After the game ended, Brighton shared via its official X handle, the full time reactions of its players and coach and Coach Fabian hurzeler, thanking and applauding the fans for their incredible support throughout the game today. They posted:
The victory comes hot on the heels of Brighton’s dramatic 2-2 draw away at West Ham in midweek and provisionally moves them up to eighth place on 28 points. That position could still change, with Everton yet to play and set to face Brentford in a tough fixture later on Sunday. For Burnley, though, the outlook is increasingly grim, as they remain six points adrift of safety with a difficult run of matches looming.
