Brighton completed a fairytale return to the First Division with an opening day defeat of 10-man Burnley.

If it was a dream start for new boss Martin Hinshelwood - reserve team coach at the Withdean last season - but a nightmare for Stan Ternent.

A goal down at half-time thanks to Steve Melton's rasping low drive from 18 yards, the Clarets were reduced to 10 men five minutes after the break when midfielder Arthur Gnohere was sent off for violent conduct.

Ten minutes later, Brighton's Paul Brooker cut inside from the left and calmly side-footed past Burnley keeper Nik Michopoulos to make it 2-0.

And it became three courtesy of hot-shot striker Bobby Zamora's brilliant finish from close range three minutes later.

In the seventh minute Zamora had headed Paul Watson's free-kick beyond Michopoulos, only for the goal to be ruled out for an infringement.

Lee Briscoe slotted home for the Clarets on 90 minutes from Taylor's cushioned header, but it was scant consolation.

Brighton went close in the opening exchanges and it was no surprise the visitors opened the scoring.

Zamora cleverly played midfielder Melton in and he sent a low, right-footed shot into Michopoulos' bottom left-hand corner from 18 yards.

Melton then limped off and was replaced by Paul Rogers, but although Dean West went close with a header, Brighton lost none of their momentum thanks to Zamora's goal.

Burnley did have their own chances, but it was destined not to be their day.

Before Briscoe's goal, Ternent's side came closest courtesy of Weller, his curling 20-yarder scraping the crossbar.