Brighton and Hove Albion recorded their first win over Crewe Alexandra since 1969 and in truth it was all over by half-time as the home side's new signing from Rochdale Glenn Murray helped himself to a brace and the veteran defender Guy Butters had a shot deflected for a third. The Crewe defence couldn't deal with crosses going into our penalty area and if things do not improve all over the pitch then we are in big, big trouble regardless of how many matches are left.

We are in a relegation dogfight and with fellow strugglers Bournemouth defeating Nottingham Forest mainly thanks to one of our leading transfer targets Sam Vokes it rubbed salt into a very gaping wound.

Although he travelled to Brighton for this afternoon's fixture, Nicky Maynard was missing from the Crewe Alexandra starting line-up after his toe injury flared up. The striker's absence meant a change in personnel up front with the recalled Eugen Bopp supporting Tom Pope.

With three of our regular midfield missing through injury, there were recalls for club captain Neil Cox, Steven Schumacher and Ryan Lowe. With Chris McCready also ruled out with a slight hamstring problem, his position at the back went to the man who replaced him on Tuesday evening, Daniel O'Donnell.

After three minutes, Bopp was rather unlucky not to see him pressurising the Brighton keeper Michel Kuipers into an early costly mistake. The Kiev-born Bopp chased down a clearance and applied a sufficient block but the ball broke kindly for Tom Elphick and he was able to complete the clearance.

Just over a minute later, Kuipers made up for his mistake with a diving save to deny Bopp once again. The former Nottingham Forest and Rotherham United player collected a pass from Steven Schumacher on the edge of the Brighton box and his powerful shot was pushed away for a corner.

Crewe then had to survive two early scares of their own following corners. Firstly, full back Andrew Whing saw his acrobatic effort deflected wide for another corner. He and then Guy Butters were then rather unfortunate not to connect to a deeper cross at the far post. Thankfully for Crewe both unmarked players couldn't reach it.

On 17 minutes, some more encouraging play from Bopp ended him being tripped on the edge of the Brighton penalty area. From the resultant free kick, Ryan Lowe shot low into the mid-drift of Kuipers and from the rebound Neil Cox's drilled shot was deflected behind for a corner. It had been a promising start from the Railwaymen, with Bopp out to make an impression in his 'floating' role behind Pope.

On 20 minutes, Brighton's new signing Glenn Murray went awfully close to giving the home side the lead. The £300,000 signing from Rochdale tricked his way past Julien Baudet but his final shot just passed Ben Williams' far post.

The new signing did open his account three minutes later though. It was no great surprise that the goal arrived via a corner. Butters again won his header inside a crowded penalty area and although Crewe initially smuggled it off the line, there was Murray handily placed to fire it into the roof of the net. After such an encouraging start, Crewe once again found themselves behind on the road. Just moments after scoring, Murray was rather lucky not to enter the referee's book for a late and reckless challenge on Danny Woodards.

Crewe tried to respond from the set-back and the lively Bopp looked the most likely. After receiving another simply pass into him from Schumacher, he unleashed another fine shot from distance which struck Kuipers cross bar. It was a wonderful effort, which had, took a slight knick off the boot of Elphick.

Brighton were a threat going forward though with the pace of Jake Robinson a thorn in our side and Murray looking good on his debut for the home side. Whing headed one wide of the mark from yet another corner, and Patrick Boyle had to be well placed to turn a dangerous looking cross from Nicky Forster behind.

Thomson also fired just wide after he was gifted with the freedom of the Withdean. He was unopposed on the edge of our box, but thankfully shot just a yard or so wide. Forster was also denied by a save by Ben Williams, as Brighton aimed to finish the half on a real high.

With four minutes remaining, the home side doubled their advantage and again it came from a corner. Crewe failed to deal properly with another delivery from Dean Cox and Butters climbed highest to reach the ball first and after Crewe had failed to clear their lines, Butters smacked home the loose ball. It may have taken a slight deflection on the way in, but it was still such an avoidable goal. Conceding such poor goals gave us an absolute mountain to climb.

A third goal duly arrived on 45 minutes with Murray volleying home a superb third goal after Forster flicked on a cross inside the box. There was absolutely nothing Ben Williams could do about it, as was the power of his shot from such a close range. Going in at the interval, Crewe were in big, big trouble.

Crewe Alexandra then lost Julien Baudet at the interval with George Abbey coming on. Woodards moved into the centre of the Alex defence. Crewe should have pulled one back just seconds into the second half, with Bopp playing Moore in but the legs of Kuipers saved his shot. It had been a great chance to drag ourselves at least back into contention.

Minutes later Moore made a right mess of his shot at the far post after Lowe had picked him out. As he drilled it harmlessly into the floor and into a crowd, it was another good chance wasted.

On 57 minutes, Moore completed a hat-trick of decent chances missed after Kuipers had parried a Lowe free-kick into his path. Moore should have scored from close range, but lifted the ball over the bar. It was an awful miss and it was little wonder he and his other team-mates held their head in their hands. Crewe had created enough decent chances to have provided us with some hope in this game, but young Moore had left his finishing boots back in South Cheshire.

That is not to say Brighton were still not providing a threat going forward. Forster had a chance from close range, which took a deflection off of Woodards to send it behind for a corner.

Brighton then made a change of their own with David Martot replacing Robinson. Dean Cox and then Adam El-Abd then had more chances blocked as Brighton looked to finish off Crewe good and proper with a fourth goal.

With 15 minutes remaining Junior Brown came on for his debut. The local lad replaced Ryan Lowe on the wing. Moments later, Forster thought he had scored a fourth goal but it was chalked off for offside.

With time running out, Dean Cox fired just over the bar after some fine approach play from the vastly experienced Forster. Crewe wanted the final whistle because our chances had dried up. Brighton were comfortable and looking for more goals.

With two minutes left, Murray left the pitch to a standing ovation and his clincial finishing infront of goal had given Brighton the cutting edge this afternoon.

Thankfully, things did not get worse this afternoon but they need to get better and quickly if we are to avoid the drop come the end of the season.