Brighton vs Burnley Player Ratings: Goals from Rutter and Ayari end Brighton's Winless Streak As Burnley's Relegation Woes Continue with a 2-0 Loss

Brighton & Hove Albion delivered a commanding performance against relegation battlers Burnley at The American Express Community Stadium. They secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over a struggling Burnley side, who are 19th in the Premier League table currently.

From our perspective, the Seagulls were in control from the first whistle. Their dominance was clear for all of us to see. The home side dictated the tempo throughout the match. They moved the ball with purpose and precision.

Georginio Rutter opened the scoring in the 29th minute with a clinical finish, as Charalampos Kostoulas bagged his first assist of the season. It was a well-deserved lead for their efforts.

Brighton & Hove Albion didn't let up in the second half. They quickly doubled their advantage through Yasin Ayari in the 47th minute, who brought up his second goal of the season in some style. Burnley, on the other hand, looked toothless in attack. They struggled to create any meaningful opportunities in this Premier League encounter.

It was a tough afternoon for the visitors, but the Brighton vs Burnley game surely entertained a lot of fans around. Sportsdunia presents you with the Brighton vs Burnley Player Ratings, where we dissect every player's performance.

Brighton & Hove Albion Player Ratings vs Burnley

Here are the Brighton Player Ratings from the Brighton vs Burnley Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Bart Verbruggen - 7.0: Solid and composed when called upon. He wasn't tested often but made a crucial save late in the first half. His distribution was excellent with a 96% pass accuracy. What stood out to us was his confidence on the ball. He looked like an extra outfielder at times, always offering an option.

Defenders

Lewis Dunk - 7.5: A true captain's performance from the center-back. He was a rock at the back, making 5 important clearances. His passing range was sublime, completing 118 passes. From our view, he organized the defense perfectly. A very commanding display from the veteran.

Jan Paul van Hecke - 7.5: Very impressive alongside his captain. He won six of his seven duels and made 8 vital clearances. He even ventured forward, getting a shot on target. We noticed his excellent reading of the game. He seemed to be in the right place at the right time constantly.

Ferdi Kadıoğlu - 8.5: The clear man of the match, an exceptional performance. He was a force of nature, contributing massively in both defense and attack. He created 3 chances, and his crossing was a constant threat. His energy up and down the flank was incredible. This was a brilliant performance that earns him our highest-rated player award.

Joël Veltman - 7.0: A typically reliable and steady performance from the Dutchman. He made 6 clearances and was positionally sound throughout the match. He supported the attack well without ever neglecting his defensive duties. Just a really solid, no-frills game that we've come to expect.

Midfielders

Brajan Gruda - 6.5: A mixed bag for the midfielder. He showed some nice touches and won a good number of his duels. However his final ball was often lacking. He worked hard for the team but couldn't quite make the decisive impact. We felt he was a bit wasteful in possession at key moments.

Georginio Rutter - 7.0: Scored the crucial opening goal with a smart finish from a tight angle. He was a real nuisance for the Burnley defence in the first half. He did fade a bit before being substituted. Still, his goal set the tone for the win. A good contribution overall.

Kaoru Mitoma - 6.5: Not his most electrifying performance. He was neat and tidy in possession but we missed his usual directness and flair. He completed a dribble or two but wasn't the consistent threat we know he can be. A quiet day at the office for the Japanese star.

Diego Gómez - 6.5: Kept things ticking over in midfield with an impressive 97% pass accuracy. However he was a bit too safe with his passing on occasion. We wanted to see him be more adventurous and try to break the lines. A decent but ultimately unspectacular outing for him.

Yasin Ayari - 8.0: A fantastic performance capped with a well-taken goal. He was a bundle of energy, recovering the ball 7 times for his side. He was always looking to get forward and his goal was the just reward for his effort. What stood out was his constant movement and desire to influence play.

Forwards

Charalampos Kostoulas - 7.0: A real handful for the opposition defenders. He provided a clever assist for the first goal and was a physical presence upfront. He will be disappointed to have missed a big chance himself. From our perspective, his work rate was phenomenal, winning 10 duels.

Substitutes

Substitutes - N/A: Maxim De Cuyper, Danny Welbeck, Pascal Groß, James Milner, and Tom Watson were all introduced but didn't have enough time to warrant a full rating.

Manager

F. Hürzeler - 8.0: His game plan worked to perfection. His team dominated possession and controlled the match from start to finish. The tactics completely nullified Burnley's approach and made for a comfortable victory. A very impressive managerial performance.

Burnley Player Ratings vs Brighton & Hove Albion

Here are the Burnley Player Ratings from the Brighton vs Burnley Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Martin Dúbravka - 6.5: He couldn't have done much about either of the goals he conceded. He made a couple of decent saves to keep the scoreline from getting worse. His distribution was a bit shaky under the constant Brighton press. From our perspective, he did what he could in a losing effort.

Defenders

Kyle Walker - 5.5: A difficult game for the captain. He was caught out of position a few times and his passing was unusually sloppy. He lost possession 17 times which is far too high for a player of his calibre. He just didn't look comfortable and his booking summed up his day.

Bashir Humphreys - 6.0: Had his hands full with Brighton's fluid attack all game. He made 7 clearances but was also dribbled past and picked up a booking. He tried his best but was part of a defence that was second best all day. A tough learning experience for the young defender.

Hjalmar Ekdal - 5.5: He really struggled in the air, losing 5 of his 7 aerial duels. He looked nervy on the ball despite a high pass completion rate. He just couldn't handle the movement of Brighton's forwards. We noticed he was often a step behind the play.

Lucas Pires - 6.0: Had one of Burnley's few shots on target, which was well saved. Defensively, he was given a torrid time and lost possession far too often. He tried to get forward but it often left his team exposed at the back. A mixed performance at best from our view.

Josh Laurent - 5.5: Deployed in a defensive role and struggled to make a real impact. He battled hard but was often overwhelmed in midfield, winning only 4 of 9 duels. His yellow card early on was a clear sign of his frustration. This was not his best game by any means.

Midfielders

Jacob Bruun Larsen - 6.0: Almost anonymous during his 55 minutes on the pitch. He struggled to get into the game and had very few touches. He couldn't provide any spark or creativity for his team. A forgettable performance before being rightly substituted.

Lesley Ugochukwu - 5.0: A day to forget for the midfielder. His error leading to a goal, as highlighted in his stats, was a critical and costly moment. He looked completely off the pace and was subbed off early in the second half. Easily the worst performer on the pitch from our point of view.

Jaidon Anthony - 6.5: One of the few Burnley players to emerge with some credit. He worked tirelessly, winning an impressive 9 of his 12 duels and drawing several fouls. He showed fight and desire when many of his teammates didn't. A spirited but ultimately fruitless effort.

Florentino - 6.5: A very busy afternoon for the midfielder. He made a massive 7 tackles but was also booked and committed several fouls. He was energetic but struggled to contain Brighton's dynamic midfield. His passing was tidy but he couldn't dictate the play as he would have liked.

Forwards

Armando Broja - 6.0: A frustrating and isolating experience for the striker. He was starved of any real service and had to feed on scraps all game. He battled hard in the air but had no real chances to speak of. It’s hard to rate him fairly when he had so little to work with.

Substitutes

Substitutes - N/A: The substitutes brought a little bit of energy when they came on, but couldn't change the course of the game against a dominant Brighton side.

Manager

S. Parker - 5.0: His team was thoroughly outplayed and out-thought from the first minute to the last. There seemed to be no clear plan to counter Brighton's strengths or to create chances of their own. A very disappointing day for the manager, who has a lot of work to do.

Sportsdunia Player of the Match: Ferdi Kadıoğlu