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Wieffer at the double as Brighton march on with win at Burnley

Mats Wieffer scored twice at Turf Moor to secure a 2-0 win for Brighton at Burnley, keeping their hopes of securing European football alive with six games to go in the Premier League.

Wieffer had scored just one goal for Brighton before tripling his tally for the club against Burnley and his opener was much-needed in the first half after his side had weathered early pressure from their opponents.

Jaidon Anthony thought he had tucked Burnley into an early lead in the seventh minute before replays showing he had strayed inches offside cut the celebrations short.

It was then the unlikely candidate of Wieffer who was found perfectly by Pascal Gross in the box before sweeping home to break the deadlock just before half-time.

Bashir Humphreys lashed home what he thought was an equaliser from close range to punish Brighton for a sloppy second half but the defender would suffer the same fate as teammate Anthony while celebrating, as VAR and another tight offside came to Brighton's rescue.

Burnley continued to push but smart saves from Bart Verbruggen to deny Zian Flemming on two occasions ensured the clean sheet remained intact.

Wieffer then sidefooted his second of the afternoon home with one minute to go, securing a fifth win out of their last six games in the top-flight for Fabian Hurzeler's side.

The victory means Brighton now sit in ninth place, two points off Chelsea in sixth and three off Liverpool ahead of them, as they continue to push for European football next season.

They face Tottenham, another team battling relegation, live on Sky Sports in their next outing on April 18.

Meanwhile, Burnley's return to the Championship looks all but confirmed with the Clarets still 12 points adrift of safety as they limp to an almost inevitable relegation.

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