Charlie Austin's 16th goal of the season was enough to give Burnley all three points against promotion-chasing Brighton.

The striker jinked his way through the Seagulls' defence to see his initial effort cleared, before reacting quickest to thunder in the rebound.

Ross Wallace could have doubled his side's advantage, hitting a long-range effort narrowly over the bar.

Clarets keeper Lee Grant denied the lively Craig Mackail-Smith late on.

The decisive moment came after 27 minutes when former Swindon forward Austin coolly converted Josh McQuoid's cross at the second attempt.

Danny Ings headed a teasing delivery from Kieran Trippier wide before Austin almost capitalised again when another cross from the former Manchester City youngster caused further havoc in the Seagulls' area.

Grant plunged to his left to make a superb save when Sam Vokes teed up Mackail-Smith two minutes after the restart.

Vicente also failed to convert after being hacked down by Michael Duff, scuffing his 25-yard free-kick into the bottom of the wall.

Ashley Barnes replaced Vokes after an hour and his first contribution was to blaze over from Joe Mattock's low, left-wing cross.

But Austin continued to press and speared a shot narrowly wide from McQuoid's knockdown, as the Clarets gained a well-earned victory.

Despite a remarkable run of just one Championship defeat in 2012, which has seen Brighton climb into the play-off places, they have now won only once in their last seven away games.

Meanwhile, Burnley's first home win since Valentine's Day keeps their play-off hopes alive.

Lineup, Bookings (7) & Substitutions (5)

Burnley

  • 01 Grant Booked
  • 02 Trippier
  • 04 Duff
  • 15 Edgar Booked
  • 06 McCann Booked
  • 07 Wallace
  • 11 Stanislas
  • 19 McQuoid
  • 20 Bartley Booked (Marney - 30' )
  • 14 Ings Booked
  • 23 Austin (Hewitt - 87' )

Substitutes

  • 12 Jensen
  • 08 Marney
  • 33 Hewitt
  • 39 Fletcher
  • 42 McCartan

Brighton

  • 01 Brezovan
  • 02 Mattock (Noone - 70' Booked )
  • 03 Greer
  • 06 El-Abd
  • 14 Calderon
  • 36 Jara (Buckley - 60' )
  • 08 Navarro
  • 15 Vicente Booked
  • 18 Dicker
  • 12 Mackail-Smith
  • 24 Vokes (Barnes - 60' )

Substitutes

  • 16 Ankergren
  • 11 Noone
  • 25 LuaLua
  • 30 Buckley
  • 09 Barnes
Ref: Boyeson
Att: 13,516

Match Stats

Shots

17 18

On target

8 9

Corners

6 6

Fouls

12 5

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:07

Rodriguez Vicente delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing, clearance by Dean Marney.

90:00 +4:07 Booking

Booking David Edgar is shown a yellow card.

90:00 +3:54

Will Buckley fouled by Michael Duff, the ref awards a free kick.

90:00 +7:22 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +6:04 Booking

Booking The referee cautions Lee Grant for time wasting.

90:00 +5:22

The assistant referee signals for offside against Craig Noone. Free kick taken by Lee Grant.

90:00 +4:43

Adam El-Abd takes a shot. Save made by Lee Grant.

90:00 +4:07

Rodriguez Vicente crosses the ball in from the free kick, Dean Marney makes a clearance.

90:00 +4:07 Booking

Booking Michael Duff receives a yellow card.

90:00 +3:54

Michael Duff gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Will Buckley.

89:20

Josh McQuoid takes the direct free kick.

89:20 Booking

Booking Rodriguez Vicente receives a caution for dissent.

88:06 Booking

Booking Craig Noone receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.

87:42

Craig Noone concedes a free kick for a foul on Kieran Trippier.

86:05 Substitution

Substitution Steven Hewitt on for Charlie Austin.

84:08

Handball by Charlie Austin. Peter Brezovan restarts play with the free kick.

82:29

The ball is swung over by Will Buckley.

80:56

Unfair challenge on Craig Noone by Charlie Austin results in a free kick. Craig Noone delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left wing.

80:03

Rodriguez Vicente takes a shot. Blocked by Dean Marney. Corner taken right-footed by Will Buckley, Gordon Greer takes a shot. Junior Stanislas gets a block in.

76:56

Charlie Austin produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the goal.

76:08

Corner taken left-footed by Rodriguez Vicente from the right by-line, clearance made by Michael Duff.

75:52

Danny Ings takes a shot. Save by Peter Brezovan.

72:04

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Junior Stanislas from the left by-line. Short corner taken by Michael Duff. Header from close range by David Edgar clears the bar.

70:19

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Danny Ings by Adam El-Abd. Kieran Trippier takes the free kick.

70:03

Craig Noone delivers the ball, Ross Wallace manages to make a clearance.

69:01 Substitution

Substitution Craig Noone joins the action as a substitute, replacing Joe Mattock.

66:18

Direct free kick taken by Peter Brezovan.

66:18 Booking

Booking Danny Ings receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

66:09

Danny Ings concedes a free kick for a foul on Adam El-Abd.

64:07

Corner taken right-footed by Will Buckley from the right by-line, Michael Duff manages to make a clearance.

63:35

Kieran Trippier sends in a cross, comfortable save by Peter Brezovan.

61:10

Foul by Junior Stanislas on Alan Navarro, free kick awarded. Gordon Greer restarts play with the free kick.

60:33

Shot from deep inside the area by Ashley Barnes clears the bar.

58:37 Substitution

Substitution Will Buckley on for Gonzalo Jara Reyes.

58:37 Substitution

Substitution Ashley Barnes comes on in place of Sam Vokes.

58:37

Effort from the edge of the box by Rodriguez Vicente goes wide of the right-hand upright.

57:35

The official flags Sam Vokes offside. Free kick taken by Lee Grant.

56:38

Danny Ings challenges Rodriguez Vicente unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Alan Navarro.

54:32

Unfair challenge on Rodriguez Vicente by Michael Duff results in a free kick. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Rodriguez Vicente.

51:58

Kieran Trippier has an effort at goal from outside the area missing to the wide right of the target.

50:55

Unfair challenge on Chris McCann by Sam Vokes results in a free kick. Lee Grant restarts play with the free kick.

50:24

Joe Mattock produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the target.

48:55

Junior Stanislas produces a cross, Peter Brezovan makes a comfortable save.

47:25

Craig Mackail-Smith takes a shot. Save made by Lee Grant.

46:17

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Rodriguez Vicente by Chris McCann. Direct free kick taken by Rodriguez Vicente.

45:46

Charlie Austin takes a shot. Adam El-Abd gets a block in.

45:01

The referee starts the second half.

45:00 +2:13 Half time

Half Time The referee blows for half time.

45:00 +0:21

Gary Dicker sends in a cross, Header by Sam Vokes from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.

44:55

Dean Marney gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Rodriguez Vicente. Rodriguez Vicente takes the free kick.

44:08

Shot by Rodriguez Vicente from outside the box goes high over the crossbar.

42:27

Sam Vokes takes a shot. David Edgar gets a block in. Rodriguez Vicente challenges Chris McCann unfairly and gives away a free kick. Lee Grant takes the free kick.

41:00

Ross Wallace takes a shot. Blocked by Gonzalo Jara Reyes.

38:26

Ross Wallace takes a shot. Blocked by Sam Vokes. Corner taken right-footed by Junior Stanislas from the left by-line, save by Peter Brezovan.

37:57

The ball is delivered by Inigo Calderon, save by Lee Grant.

36:00

Centre by Kieran Trippier, Charlie Austin takes a shot. Blocked by Adam El-Abd. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Junior Stanislas from the right by-line, clearance made by Sam Vokes.

32:45

Kieran Trippier sends in a cross, Josh McQuoid has a header from inside the six-yard box and clears the crossbar.

30:37 Booking

Booking Booking for Chris McCann.

30:19

Rodriguez Vicente takes a shot. Michael Duff gets a block in.

28:36

Joe Mattock takes the free kick.

28:36 Substitution

Substitution Dean Marney replaces Marvin Bartley.

28:36

Charlie Austin has a shot on goal from outside the area which misses right. Michael Duff gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Craig Mackail-Smith.

22:35

Assist on the goal came from Josh McQuoid.

22:35 Goal scored

Goal - Charlie Austin - Burnley 1 - 0 Brighton Charlie Austin grabs a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the top left corner of the goal. Burnley 1-0 Brighton.

21:19

Corner taken short by Rodriguez Vicente.

20:33

Corner taken by Rodriguez Vicente from the left by-line, David Edgar makes a clearance. Gonzalo Jara Reyes takes a shot. Blocked by Charlie Austin.

19:17

Danny Ings takes a shot.

18:57

The ball is crossed by Kieran Trippier.

17:44

Corner taken short by Junior Stanislas, Junior Stanislas takes a shot. Sam Vokes makes a clearance.

17:04

Rodriguez Vicente takes a shot. Rodriguez Vicente takes a shot. Blocked by Michael Duff.

15:06

Effort from the edge of the area by Joe Mattock goes wide of the right-hand upright.

14:13

The ball is crossed by Craig Mackail-Smith, David Edgar gets a block in. Corner taken left-footed by Rodriguez Vicente from the right by-line, save by Lee Grant.

12:39

Adam El-Abd takes the direct free kick.

12:39 Booking

Booking Marvin Bartley goes into the referee's book.

11:52

Unfair challenge on Alan Navarro by Marvin Bartley results in a free kick.

8:59

Foul by Marvin Bartley on Alan Navarro, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Adam El-Abd.

7:54

Rodriguez Vicente has an effort at goal from outside the box missing to the wide left of the goal.

7:04

Ross Wallace sends in a cross, free kick awarded for a foul by Charlie Austin on Adam El-Abd. Free kick taken by Peter Brezovan.

6:14

Gary Dicker challenges Danny Ings unfairly and gives away a free kick. Kieran Trippier restarts play with the free kick.

5:08

Josh McQuoid takes a shot. Blocked by Alan Navarro. Charlie Austin takes a shot. Blocked by Adam El-Abd.

3:57

Shot by Ross Wallace from outside the area goes high over the crossbar.

3:10

The ball is sent over by Rodriguez Vicente, Craig Mackail-Smith produces a header from inside the area that goes over the bar.

2:01

The ball is swung over by Ross Wallace, Adam El-Abd gets a block in. Corner from the left by-line taken by Ross Wallace, clearance made by Gordon Greer.

1:26

Charlie Austin takes a shot. Gordon Greer gets a block in.

0:00

The referee gets the game started.

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