Brighton & Hove Albion finally halted a concerning slide in form, securing their first Premier League victory in seven attempts with a comfortable 2-0 win over relegation-threatened Burnley at the Amex Stadium on Saturday, 3 January 2026.
Seagulls Soar Out of Slump
The result, achieved on a bitterly cold afternoon in Sussex, propelled Scott Parker's side up the table from 14th to a much healthier eighth position. It ended a dismal December run where they had taken just three points from a possible 18. For Burnley, managed by Vincent Kompany, the misery deepened as their wait for a top-flight win stretched to a dire 11 games, leaving them second-bottom and six points from safety.
Rutter and Ayari Seal the Points
The breakthrough came in the 29th minute after a period of Brighton dominance. Yasin Ayari's deflected shot fell kindly to Georginio Rutter, who made no mistake from a tight angle, slamming the ball into the bottom corner for his second goal of the season.
Burnley, with a woeful record of failing to win any of their previous 39 Premier League matches when conceding first, almost snatched an equaliser just before half-time. Lucas Pires's low drive was well saved by Bart Verbruggen, a stop that proved crucial.
Brighton doubled their lead just two minutes after the restart. Capitalising on a costly error by Burnley midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu on the edge of his own box, Ayari sidestepped a defender and drilled a precise finish into the bottom-left corner.
Clarets' Late Rally Falls Short
The visitors' best chance to get back into the game came in the 67th minute. Substitute Loum Tchaouna headed towards an open goal after Verbruggen flapped at a corner, only for Ferdi Kadioglu to produce a spectacular goal-line clearance, heading the ball onto his own crossbar.
Brighton, with new signing Pascal Gross receiving a rapturous welcome on his second debut for the club, saw out the game comfortably. Maxim De Cuyper even rattled the post with a late free-kick as the Seagulls registered their first-ever Premier League home win against Burnley at the seventh attempt.
The final whistle confirmed a vital three points for Brighton, lifting the mood at the Amex, while Burnley's desperate plight at the foot of the table looks increasingly severe.
