Brighton 4

Glenn Murray scored twice as Brighton gave their survival hopes a shot in the arm and brought Swansea’s revival to a halt.

Murray’s double and goals from Anthony Knockaert and Jurgen Locadia helped secure a valuable victory as the Swans’ 10-game unbeaten run came to an end.

Brighton have been in decent form, unbeaten in their last five outings, but they still need points on the board sooner rather than later, so a home meeting with another side battling against relegation was seen as a “must-win”.

They threatened first with a counter-attack led by Knockaert, who crossed towards Pascal Gross at the far post, but the German frontman opted to take a touch before shooting and allowed Tom Carroll to make a last-ditch block.

From the resulting corner Jose Izquierdo blazed over, but the Seagulls did not have to wait long to make the breakthrough.

In the 19th minute Mike van der Hoorn caught the back of Murray’s leg, sending the striker tumbling to the deck. Murray stepped up and tucked away the spot-kick, sending Lukasz Fabianski the wrong way.

Swans boss Carlos Carvalhal made a bold substitution nine minutes before halftime, taking off Nathan Dyer and putting Andre Ayew up front with his brother Jordan.

Both sides were denied by the woodwork before the break, Lewis Dunk thumping a header against the bar and Jordan Ayew firing against a post.

Early in the second half, Seagulls goalkeeper Mathew Ryan dived full stretch to palm away Ki Sung-yueng’s drive.

At the other end Murray bundled in a cross from Knockaert, but he was marginally offside. However, he was not to be denied in the

46 Possession 54 5 Shots on target 1 11 Shots off target 10 3 Corners 5 3 Offside 0 16 Fouls 4 1 Ca u t i o n s 0 0 Sending- of fs 0

STAR MAN: GLENN MURRAY

now has 10 Premier League goals this season and was a terrific outlet once more for the Seagulls.

69th minute after some fine interplay between Izquierdo and Gross.

Izquierdo reached the byline and cut the ball back to where Murray was waiting to sweep the ball home.

Four minutes later Gross played in Knockaert, who drove low with a smart finish across Fabianski.

Swansea sub Tammy Abraham created an 85th-minute consolation with a long-range effort which deflected in off Dunk.

But Brighton’s record January signing Locadia, on as a sub, completed the scoring at the death.