Yankuba Minteh scored the only goal of the game as Brighton clinched a 1-0 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
An end-to-end first half saw both teams have great opportunities in the opening moments, with Jack Hinshelwood superbly denied by Melker Ellborg and Lewis Dunk making a goalline stop from Chemsdine Talbi.
Chris Rigg had a goal ruled out for offside early in the second half and Brighton took the lead through Minteh's effort from a narrow angle.
The Seagulls held on to return to winning ways in the Premier League following defeat to Arsenal last week and have now reached 40 points, while Sunderland slip to a third straight loss at home.
Burnley and Bournemouth played out a tepid goalless draw at Turf Moor that does little to help either team's Premier League ambitions.
The Clarets managed just a fourth clean sheet in the league this season but remain eight points adrift of safety with only eight games left, while Bournemouth are now unbeaten in 10 matches but really needed three points to boost their European hopes.
Both teams hit the woodwork while Evanilson had a very early shot cleared off the line but neither did enough to merit victory.
