By Tim Dudding, at Withdean

Albion ended their Crewe hoodoo in style this afternoon after Glenn Murray inspired the Seagulls to their first win over the Railwaymen in 39 years.

Murray netted twice on his first start for the club, with Guy Butters adding the other, as Albion cruised to a comfortable victory over struggling Crewe.

Murray's display, and the result, both came as welcome fillip after a testing week for the Seagulls, in which captain Dean Hammond and striker Alex Revell both left, as well as injuries to midfield duo Paul Reid and Tommy Fraser.

Manager Dean Wilkins admitted, "It was just what we needed after what, at times, was a difficult week.

"With all the ins and outs, and the injuries as well, there was a lot of head-scratching going on leading up to the game.

"To be fair to the players, they remained focused in training, we did some really good work in terms of what we were trying to achieve, and to a large part today we achieved it in regular intervals."

After an impressive substitute performance at Northampton in midweek, Dean Wilkins handed Murray his full debut here today, and the former Rochdale striker carried on where he had left off at Sixfields.

The Seagulls looked threatening from set pieces straight from the off - Andrew Whing's overhead kick saved at the near post Ben Williams as early as the sixth minute - and in the 21st minute the pressure finally told when Murray turned Butters's header over the line from a yard out.

The goal spurred a rendition of "Ring a Ring of Roses" from all the outfield players, replete with fake death throes on the pitch - inspired, we are told, after a unique training session on Friday morning.

It was Crewe who were plagued however, and Murray almost doubled his tally after turning Neil Cox inside and out, only to see his shot flash past the far post.

Everytime Albion forced a corner they looked like scoring, and with half-time approaching they finally did increase their advantage when Butters deflected shot beat Williams.

Albion were rampant, and a minute before the interval Cox's cross was nodded on by Forster, and Murray volleyed nonchalantly past Williams at the far post to make it three.

The only threat posed by Crewe in a miserable first half for the visitors came from Eugen Bopp, who forced an athletic right-handed save from Michel Kuipers early on, and later hit the bar with a powerful long-range drive.

Albion looked less likely after the break as Crewe - no doubt galvanised by their half-time team talk from Steve Holland - proved more difficult to break down.

The Seagulls did get the ball in the net a fourth time however, when Nicky Forster volleyed emphatically from 12 yards after a sublime flick from Murray, but the striker's effort was ruled offside.

Tom Pope had a sight of goal late on to steal a consolation, but his effort flew disappointingly wide.

Albion: (4-4-2) Kuipers; Whing, Elphick, Butters, Richards; Robinson (Martot 65), El-Abd, Thomson, Cox (McFaul 90); Forster, Murray (Gatting 90). Subs not used: Mayo, Fogden.

Crewe: (4-4-2) Williams; Woodards, Baudet (Abbey 45), O'Donnell, Boyle; Moore, Schumacher, Cox; Lowe (Brown 76); Bopp, Pope. Subs: Tomlinson (GK), Carrington, Bailey, Brown, Abbey.

Referee: Dean Whitestone

Yellow Cards: None