IT is 50 years ago this season since Willie Irvine set a post-war club goalscoring record of 29 in the league.

It has yet to be broken. But you would not bet against Andre Gray being the man to steal Irvine’s long-held crown this year.

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The Championship’s top scorer went into the game with the prospect of becoming the first Burnley player in the club’s history to score four consecutive home braces, having scored twice in previous Turf Moor wins over Bolton, Huddersfield and Fulham.

He was on course to achieve it when he found the net from the penalty spot in the fourth minute, cancelling out Bobby Zamora’s quickfire opener.

Ultimately, the second was not forthcoming.

But records are made to be broken, even though Brighton’s wasn’t here.

The Seagulls arrived in East Lancashire as English football’s only remaining unbeaten team this season, after 16 Championship games.

They had taken maximum points from leaders Hull City, but manager Chris Hughton had highlighted Burnley away on a brisk November day as their toughest test yet.

You wouldn’t have thought so with the way that the Seagulls set off, going from nought to 1-0 in just 58 seconds - Zamora converting from close range after Temor Hemed hit the crossbar.

The Clarets had already been rocked by the loss of Sam Vokes - a late decision taken by manager Sean Dyche following doubts about his recovery from the groin strain he suffered in the goalless draw at Wolves a fortnight earlier.

But if they were stunned by this early and unexpected setback in the game they did not let it show.

Their reaction was determined and decisive.

With a corner won, David Jones delivered, Michael Keane jostled with Lewis Dunk but referee Simon Hooper spotted a significant shirt pull of the defender as the biggest infringement and pointed to the spot.

Gray stood over the spot kick and confidently fired past goalkeeper David Stockdale.

He was halfway to becoming a record breaker.

But despite the hectic nature of the first half - and certainly the opening few minutes of it - neither side managed to break through again.

Solly March’s shot could not get past the safe hands of Tom Heaton.

A minute later George Boyd’s low free kick through the wall spilled out of Stockdale’s grasp and was turned behind for a corner, but Brighton were able to deal with it.

They, like Burnley, were missing a key forward figure with Sam Baldock out injured.

Zamora was chosen to fill the void.

The former West Ham man was short of game time, starting only his second game for the Seagulls, but was nevertheless an influence, setting up Hemed with a knockdown only to see the striker fire over.

Rouwen Hennings, restored to the starting line-up for the injured Vokes, came close to getting his first for the Clarets from Boyd’s cross, but Stockdale saved smartly.

Hennings and Boyd then combined well to create a chance for Gray, which Gordon Greer got in the way of.

Continuing the end-to-end nature of the half Zamora climbed to meet a right wing cross, but his header dipped over.

After a presentation by vice-chairman Barry Kilby to former Burnley and Brighton striker Irvine in honour of his long-standing goal record, the second half was not as frenetic as the first. But Irvine would have been pleased to see that it was still full of chances, with Burnley having the better of them.

Boyd shot wide before Arfield came to the fore as Burnley looked the most likely team to score the second goal.

After a neat one-two with Boyd Arfield was unlucky not to hit the target from 25 yards.

Following the early penalty Gray’s role had become more that of provider than scorer, and after he beat his marker convincingly to get to the byeline he pulled a dangerous ball back.

It rolled too far behind substitute Chris Long, who was lurking around the six-yard box, but it carried on into the path of the onrushing Arfield.

The Scot, who scored the winner in front of the cameras on derby day, had the chance grab the glory again, and all three points, but he fired a fraction wide in this televised early afternoon clash between two of the Championship’s early pacesetters.