It gave Fabian Hürzeler’s side their first league win since the start of the year, having won just once in 12 games across all competitions.
However, defeat was a damaging pill for Brentford’s European aspirations as a win would have taken them above Liverpool.
For the visitors, it was a much-needed win as goals from Diego Gomez and Danny Welbeck gave them their first league win since 3 January.
Danny Welbeck (left) scores Brighton’s second goal in their win at Brentford. (Image: PA)
Lewis Dunk had the first shot on target, with his effort in the penalty area comfortably saved by Caoimhín Kelleher.
Meanwhile, Brentford came close to breaking the deadlock just moments later through Mathias Jensen.
A clearance from Bart Verbruggen went straight to the midfielder, but he was unable to generate enough power to beat the Dutchman.
However, for a side that had won one of their last six league games, it was the Seagulls that looked more likely to take the lead.
Kelleher was called in to action to repel Pascal Gross from long-range, before superbly denying Kaoru Mitoma at his near post.
40-year-old James Milner almost celebrated his appearance milestone in fine fashion, but his effort whistled past a post.
Mitoma came close again but his effort was easily saved by Kelleher.
Brentford were on the hopes and needed a break from somewhere.
They almost did through Igor Thiago but the striker blazed over when he should have done better. Vitaly Janelt curled narrowly over the bar.
However, it would be Hürzeler’s side that would deservedly take the lead.
Ferdi Kadioglu’s curling effort came off the crossbar, but Diego Gómez was on hand to curl the rebound past Kelleher.
Diego Gomez (centre) scores Brighton’s first goal in their win at Brentford. (Image: PA)
Things got even better for Brighton as they doubled their lead just before the break.
Poor defending by Nathan Collins allowed Danny Welbeck to take advantage by smashing home past Kelleher.
There weren’t many opportunities in the second-half, but in truth the damage had already been done on Brentford’s part.
However, they were almost gifted a route back into the game by an unlikely source.
A teasing cross found Joël Veltman, whose header was creeping in but Bart Verbruggen spared his teammate the ignominy of an own goal.
Nonetheless, it was not Brentford’s day as they suffered their third home league defeat of the season.
Head coach Keith Andrews will be demanding a reaction when they head to Burnley next weekend.
Brentford: Kelleher; Hickey (Collins 44), Ajer (Donovan 81), van den Berg, Henry; Janelt (Yarmoliuk ht), Henderson (Damsgaard 67), Jensen; Lewis-Potter (Schade ht), Thiago, Ouattara.
Brighton: Verbruggen; Wieffer (Veltman 65), van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu; Milner (Baleba 90), Hinshelwood, Gross; Gómez (De Cuyper 76), Welbeck, Mitoma.
Attendance: 17,163