Mats Wieffer scored twice at Turf Moor as Brighton beat Burnley 2-0 to keep 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.
"I am not the biggest fan of talking of Europe but it is something, we are known as a well-structured club but we are not known for being ambitious," Hurzeler said after the game.
"We want to be that and to achieve something. We have confidence we can do it. We need to understand we need to earn the right to compete with top teams. If we get consistency right, we can compete with the big teams. It is about consistency."
They face Tottenham, another team battling relegation, live on Your Site 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.
"We are getting close to that [relegation], there is no denying it," Burnley boss Scott Parker said.
"The games are running out. You're fighting with Tottenham, West Ham and Nottingham Forest. It shows the level; those teams are picking up points and we are not."
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler:
"It was not the best game from us. We kept the clean sheet and suffered, especially from set pieces. We were lucky with the tight offside decisions.
"We created a lot of danger and I think we could score more goals. We were there in the key moments but of course, they can beat every team in the league.
"The Premier League is so competitive, there is no easy game but it is important these kind of games."
Burnley boss Scott Parker:
"I didn't think there was too much in the game. The goal came at the wrong time and we were playing against a very good side in very good form.
"Second half, we did really well and it's the fine margins again, which I constantly say, were missing. That's VAR and two offside goals, which were a kneecap and a sleeve. We were on the end of a bad result.
"I have seen them back. Certainly, the second one, to the eye, doesn't look offside. We are in a world of technology. If a computer or a robot says it is [offside] then we just accept it for what it is. To me, it doesn't look like that.
"That's just the way it is. It is what it is at this present moment in time. I don't think the team lacked energy or endeavour. The key moments, you get punished."
Your Site' Patrick Rowe:
"It was far from pretty from Brighton and they needed an unlikely candidate in the form of Mats Wieffer to ultimately make the difference on the afternoon.
"Wieffer had scored just one goal for the Seagulls prior to this trip to Turf Moor but tripled his tally for the club to secure all three points.
"There were faint boos from the Burnley fans at full-time but as previously mentioned, the feeling was apathy rather than frustration.
"Their relegation back to the Championship is now all but confirmed with the club 12 points adrift of safety with six games to go.
"Meanwhile, Brighton march on and remain in touching distance of the top five. They couldn't sneak into the Champions League spots, could they?
"Their form, with five wins in their last six top-flight games, suggests they might. Liverpool are faltering and sit three points ahead, with Chelsea also susceptible to slipping up in sixth.
"A lot to play for at the Amex - and it's Tottenham up next."
