Burgess sparks Brentford to end dismal run in style

Brentford 4 Brighton and Hove Albion

Brentford could claim to have suffered the longest hangover in the Christmas and new year period before last night as their last win had come before Christmas Day. However, the Bees finally enjoyed the hair of the dog when they demolished second-placed Brighton and moved back into the play-off zone with this impressive victory.

A crazy piece of fixture scheduling meant both these teams were playing their third game in just six days. Yet it was Brentford, who had played the most recently, this being their second game in 48 hours, who were liveliest throughout. Their bright and breezy showing belied the fact they came into this game on a run of five consecutive defeats.

Brentford's early promise finally bore fruit after 22 minutes when a corner from the right by Andy Hunt was met firmly with his head by Ivar Ingimarsson. Thirteen minutes later the Seagulls were two goals down. This time Michael Dobson showed his pace as he cut in past Kerry Mayo and crossed for Ben Burgess to tap in.

Brighton were in theory the fresher team, but the Seagulls were run ragged in every department. The visitors missed one chance to get back into the game when Lee Steele scuffed his shot two minutes after the break and then, on the hour mark, Brentford made sure of the points.

An outstanding strike produced Brentford's third when Burgess controlled the ball with his back to goal and in the same movement turned and volleyed home from 20 yards. The hosts had another goal ruled out for offside, but they still managed a fourth two minutes later when Burgess stepped over a cross to leave Steve Sidwell with the easiest of tap-ins after 62 minutes.

This match saw the arrival at Griffin Park of the Second Division's most potent goalscorer, Bobby Zamora, whose 20 goals have lit up the division this season leading to interest from several Premiership clubs.

However, the Brighton striker was outshone by his Brentford counterpart, Burgess, a loan signing from Blackburn, who scored the best goal of the night and helped set up one other.

Brentford (4-4-2): Smith; Dobson, Ingimarsson, Powell, Anderson; Hunt, Evans, Mahon, Sidwell; Burgess (Tabb, 80), Owusu. Substitutes not used: Gottskalksson (gk), McCammon, Hutchinson, O'Connor.

Brighton and Hove Albion (4-4-2): Royce; Watson, Cullip, Virgo, Mayo; Hart, Oatway (Melton, 65), Rogers (Brooker, h-t), Carpenter; Jones (Steele, h-t), Zamora. Substitute not used: Kuipers (gk), Pethick.

Referee: T Parks (Birmingham).