There was relief and delight in equal measure for Aaron Connolly after the striker’s goal at Burnley sealed a Premier League record for Albion.
The 20-year-old scored his third Premier League goal but first since his double helped sink Tottenham in October as the Seagulls finished the campaign with a 2-1 win at Burnley to set a new club Premier League points record of 41.
Connolly’s expert finish early in the second half restored Albion’s advantage after Yves Bissouma’s first goal for the club had been cancelled out just before the break by former Seagulls’ striker Chris Wood.
“I don’t know how long it’s been so it’s great to be back on the scoresheet and to get three points makes it even better,” said Connolly.
“Personally, it will help me a lot going into the new season. It would have been tough not to have scored since the Tottenham game so I’m delighted.”
Connolly admitted that Albion felt hard done by not to be ahead at the break after Neal Maupay headed against the bar and Alexis MacAllister squandered a glorious chance prior to Wood’s leveller.
“We thought we’d done enough to go in at half-time ahead so to get the goal so soon in the second half lifted us,” he added.
“Since the lockdown we have approached each game the same and I thought we showed the right attitude again here.
“We have put in some good performances in recent weeks and it's a good way to finish the season.
"But we’re all looking forward to a break now to recharge our batteries. The new season isn’t far away now.”