Brighton vs. Burnley: Seagulls End Winless Run with 2-0 Victory

Brighton Secure Vital Win Against Burnley, Ending Six-Game Drought

Brighton & Hove Albion finally broke their six-game winless streak with a convincing 2-0 victory over Burnley at the Amex Stadium on Saturday, January 3, 2026. Goals from Georginio Rutter and Yasin Ayari propelled the Seagulls to a much-needed win, while Burnley's struggles continued, extending their winless run to a Premier League-record 11 games.

The match highlights are available for viewing – watch here.

Key Moments and Goals

Brighton dominated possession and created numerous opportunities throughout the match. Rutter opened the scoring with a powerful effort after a half-cleared cross deflected back into his path, beating Burnley goalkeeper Martin Dubravka into the far corner. The Seagulls doubled their lead just 68 seconds into the second half when Lesley Ugochukwu's attempted square pass was intercepted by Ayari, who skillfully skipped past Florentino and slotted the ball past Dubravka.

Burnley offered little resistance, managing only a single shot on target before halftime. A brief resurgence sparked by the introduction of Marcus Edwards saw Tchouana's corner cleared off the line and onto the bar by Ferdi Kadioglu, but it proved to be too little, too late.

Burnley's Struggles and Manager's Reaction

Burnley's performance was heavily criticized by manager Scott Parker, who expressed his disappointment with the team's lack of belief and character. “As a team, we are weak, we are not there. We have a lack of belief… I think we're all a bit embarrassed,” Parker stated. He emphasized the need for a significant improvement in mindset and performance to turn their fortunes around. You can find more analysis and betting opportunities – click here.

Brighton's Managerial Perspective

Brighton head coach Hurzeler acknowledged the element of luck in the victory but praised his team's effort and determination. “The luck doesn’t come to you, you have to do the small bits right,” he said. He also highlighted the enthusiastic reception given to Pascal Gross upon his second debut, emphasizing the veteran’s continued value to the team. For more insights and potential bets – visit this link.

Player Ratings

• Brighton: Verbruggen (7), Veltman (7), Van Hecke (8), Dunk (7), Kadioglu (8), Ayari (8), Gomez (6), Gruda (7), Rutter (7), Mitoma (6), Kostoulas (7).
• Burnley: Dubravka (7), Humphreys (6), Ekdal (6), Laurent (5), Walker (5), Ugochukwu (5), Florentino (6), Pires (6), Anthony (6), Broja (5), Bruun Larsen (5). Edwards (7), Sonne (6), Tchaouna (7), Banel (n/a).

Premier League Standings and What's Next

The victory moves Brighton up to eighth in the Premier League table, just five points off fourth-placed Liverpool. Burnley remains at the bottom of the table, facing an uphill battle to avoid relegation. Check the latest Premier League scores and fixtures – here.

Key Stats

The match statistics further illustrate Brighton's dominance, with Burnley struggling to create meaningful chances throughout the game.