James Milner breaks appearance record to help Brighton win at Brentford

Brighton marked James Milner’s record-breaking 654th Premier League appearance with a much-needed win at Brentford.

The pressure had mounted on the Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler after a run of one league win in 13 and he turned to veteran midfielder Milner in attempt to arrest a worrying run of results.

Milner’s inclusion meant he moved past Gareth Barry’s previous record of 653 appearances in the competition and it proved an occasion to remember all round for Brighton after first-half goals by Diego Gómez and Danny Welbeck.

James Milner wore boots with the number 654 on the bottom to mark his breaking the Premier League appearance record. Photograph: Paul Harding/Getty Images

Gómez scored in the 30th minute to end the visitors’ three-match run without a goal and Brentford captain Nathan Collins was at fault when Welbeck made it 2-0.

Collins’ poor clearance allowed Welbeck to fire home for his 10th goal this season before Milner’s special afternoon concluded in the 90th minute with a round of applause from both sets of supporters at Gtech Community Stadium.