PREM: Burnley 1-0 Brighton
James Tarkowski goal ends Clarets' winless streak
Burnley ended an eight-game winless run with a 1-0 victory against Brighton in the Premier League, taking them out of the relegation places.
The Clarets had not won in over two months heading into Saturday's game - last beating Cardiff on September 30 - but ground out a vital victory at a wet and windy Turf Moor.
James Tarkowski turned home a Jack Cork shot with his midriff in the 40th minute to lift Burnley into 17th place on 12 points - two ahead of Huddersfield in 18th.
The opening half an hour was a tepid affair, with Burnley have the first shot of the game on the 30-minute mark. Johann Berg Gudmundsson's cross picked out Robbie Brady at the top of the box. He hit the ball first time, but his connection was not the best as it flew over the top of the crossbar.
Five minutes later and Brighton goalkeeper Mat Ryan was forced into two good saves. Brady's ball into the area was controlled well by the chest of Ashley Barnes, who then tapped it into the path of Chris Wood. However, his shot at the post was saved well by Ryan. He was down low again not long after to collect a Brady shot that fizzed through a packed box.
Burnley took advantage of their pressure in the 40th minute, although it was a scrappy affair. Gudmundsson put a cross into the area after a cleared free-kick, picking out Ben Mee on the left. His ball forward was cleared by a Ryan punch, with the rebound falling to Cork. He struck and the effort was turned home by the midriff of Tarkowski to see the hosts ahead.
Eight minutes after the restart, and Burnley had a penalty appeal turned down. Yves Bissouma tried to clear a Ryan pass with a high boot as Phil Bardsley came in to meet the ball with his head. The Burnley defender went to ground, apparently being caught, although Bissouma did get to the ball first as Martin Atkinson waved away the claims with Burnley now going 58 Premier League games without being awarded a penalty.
Tarkowski nearly scored another in the 62nd minute after a brilliant corner delivery from Gudmundsson and although the defender rose highest to meet it, the ball just whistled past the back post.
Brighton could have snatched a point with seven minutes of normal time to play as they pummelled the Burnley box. Glenn Murray lofted a superb ball into the box to meet the run of Jurgen Locadia, but he put his header over the crossbar from just inside the six-yard box as the hosts saw out the important victory.