|
Hull, who had been struggling to hold on to a first-half lead given them by Ryan France, were relieved when Burgess bundled the ball home after first hitting the post.
"It's been a long battle for me but I know I can succeed at this level," he said.
Both teams went into the game looking for their first win and in a scrappy first half there were a lot of mistakes.
However, Craig Fagan finally unlocked the Brighton rearguard late in the half with a strong cross-field run followed by a neat lay-off to France whose 20-yard drive was deflected past Wayne Henderson. Brighton protested that Leon Knight had been fouled when Fagan took the ball off him but referee Phil Joslin wasn't impressed.
Hull's defenders, with Damien Delaney and Danny Coles both outstanding, shut out Brighton almost completely.
Seagulls manager Mark McGhee made a double substitution at half time including Mark McCammon to give them more of a physical presence up front.
McCammon immediately made the point, bursting past Andy Dawson and forcing Boaz Myhill into a brave block.
But McCammon then wasted a great chance from Knight's cross on the edge of the six-yard box.
Brighton played a neat passing game and kept Hull pinned in their own half for long periods but Peter Taylor's men generally weathered the storm with comfort.
Hull were confined to breakaways and in one of them Burgess's downward header was brilliantly saved by Henderson.
Finally as Brighton committed numbers to attack, Hull broke away with Burgess racing into to open field and driving against the post before scoring from the rebound.
"I was really relieved that it came straight back to me," added Burgess.