Burnley have moved out of the Premier League relegation zone after securing a 3-1 victory over Brighton at The Amex on Saturday.
A lively start to the match saw Brighton go close twice inside the opening few minutes, but Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton was equal to the efforts from Solly March and Pascal Gross.
At the other end Burnley hit the woodwork twice in the space of a few seconds, as Shane Duffy first diverted a Dwight McNeil cross onto his own crossbar, before Ashley Barnes somehow also skimmed the ball off the top of the upright when it was easier to score.
Barnes atoned for that miss a few minutes later, however, as his perfectly lofted ball over the top sent strike partner Chris Wood away and he emphatically fired the ball beyond the advancing Mat Ryan to make it 1-0.
That goal rattled Brighton for the while, but they regrouped and ended the first half strongly – Heaton again superbly denying both March and Gross. Seagulls’ defender Shane Duffy then had a headed effort cleared off the line by Jeff Hendrick as Burnley went into the break with their noses in front.
Into the second half and Brighton certainly appeared to be on the front foot but, against the run of play, Burnley made it 2-0 just after the hour mark and Wood had his second of the game, as his low effort squirmed beyond the clutches of Ryan.
Not long after that Brighton felt they should have had a penalty when Hendrick appeared to handle in the box, but it wasn’t given and within seconds there was a spot kick awarded at the other end when Ryan brought down Barnes.
Barnes dusted himself down to convert the resulting spot kick which seemingly wrapped up the points, although within two minutes Brighton had pulled one back when Shane Duffy headed home Anthony Knockaert’s free-kick. However, that was as good as it got for the Seagulls, who like Burnley, are now just three points above the drop zone.
Southampton goalkeeper Angus Gunn says he is loving life at St Mary's after establishing himself as the club's first choice goalkeeper. How did Southampton goalkeeper Angus Gunn establish himself as the club's first-choice goalkeeper?
This prompt doesn't seem malicious.