Seagulls Scene: Brighton look to cement Championship Play-off ambition

And when Millwall did us a favour by beating Middlesbrough in the late kick-off game we stayed there!

On a bitterly cold day at the Amex our Seagulls beat a tough Burnley side 1–0 by ‘winning ugly’. An unbeaten run of four games, gaining ten points out of 12, meant we are back in the Championship top six. Suddenly the future is bright and Leicester (fifth) and Crystal Palace (fourth) are in our sights.

I say ugly as the team were not at their best. Burnley, who still have play-off ambitions put us under quite severe pressure throughout. The Clarets will feel aggrieved going away with nothing. In some ways it was a similar win to the win at Cardiff. Our defence held and the goal scored by David Lopez after 20 minutes was defended fiercely.

The crowd at the Amex was 25,836 (with just 700 down from Burnley), again the biggest in the Championship and higher than several in the Premier League.

The highlights in the game mainly came from our Spanish quartet of Bruno, Vicente, Orlandi and Lopez - plus our Polish keeper Thomas Kuszczak.

That man was also a key man in winning the three points. Another clean sheet was achieved with a couple of fine saves.

Still our nerves could have been spared 45 minutes of suffering if Leonardo Ulloa had put away the chance close to half-time. This Saturday Huddersfield come to the Amex and three Brighton points will cement us nicely near the top.

Tuesday evening sees us at Bristol City starting a run of three away games. Then it is Bolton and Barnsley before another BIG ONE, namely Crystal Palace at the Amex on Sunday March 17 (kick off 12noon).

My hope of a win against the Eagles to leapfrog them in the league is still alive.