Albion boss Mark McGhee wants to hand trialist Martin Brittain a permanent deal.

The former Newcastle reserve winger impressed in his third pre-season appearance at Crawley last night.

McGhee said: "I will need to talk to the chairman about it but I am very keen to sign Martin Brittain."

McGhee will make his mind up about the other trialists Dan McBreen and William Mocquet after tonight's trip to MK Dons.

Mocquet caused Crawley problems with his pace and set up the third goal for Joe Gatting.

McBreen was quiet in the first half before going off at the break with a neck injury.

McGhee said: "He (Mocquet) made three fantastic runs and put in a couple of good balls but then looked like he hit a wall. That is something we need to find out about.

"Dan hurt his neck but he has done quite well.

"We have not got any more games after Milton Keynes so really we will have to make decisions then."

Defeat for Crawley came in another traumatic week for the debt-ridden club.

They were put up for sale on Tuesday after creditors rejected a survival package from the club's administrators.

But boss John Hollins refused to use that as an excuse and was unhappy with the performance.

He said: "I don't like losing games no matter what the circumstances.

We can do better than that but we didn't really get going.

"Brighton were very good, they have a lot of young players with real quality. Their movement was something we are not used to and it was a wake up call."

Despite Crawley's problems, Hollins was able to field a relatively strong line-up, made up mainly of trialists.

Players with League experience, Ben Strevens (Barnet), Scott Hiley (Manchester City), and Mark E'Beyer (Oxford), were included, as well as four of last season's squad Ben Judge, Dave Woosley, Lee Blackburn and Tony Scully.

But the home side struggled to gel in the first half as the young Seagulls dominated.

Frutos, playing against 37-yearold Hiley, particularly caught the eye on the left flank before he was replaced by Sam Rents at half time.

He set up the first goal on 17 minutes when his cross was turned in by Gatting from close range. He then scored a superb second 12 minutes later, thundering a 25-yard drive into the top corner following a short corner.

The outstanding Frenchman could have had a hat-trick as he had another pile-driver cleared off the line and hit the bar with a cross-shot.

Reds also struggled to contain Brittain on the opposite wing. He terrorised former Millwall youngster John Huckle with his pace and set up Dean Cox for a curling shot that bounced off the top of the bar.

Crawley pulled an undeserved goal back on the stroke of halftime thanks to an opportunist strike by Jake Edwards. The one-time Exeter front man gave the otherwise untroubled Michel Kuipers no chance with a 20-yard shot that sped into the bottom corner.

Mocquet came on for Brittain after the interval and took just 11 minutes to make an impact.

The pacy wide man picked out Gatting with a deep cross and the young striker barely had to move his feet as the ball ricocheted off his shins and dribbled in.

Mocquet used his blistering pace to good effect again soon after, creating two more chances for Gatting with crosses from the byeline.

He was also unfortunate not to earn Albion a penalty late on when he was tripped by Pat Stapleton but the referee gave the defender the benefit of the doubt and signalled for a corner.

Hollins's side enjoyed more possession as the game moved into its final stages and should have scored a second 15 minutes from time.

Mark Wall, the former Oxford striker released by Woking last season, somehow headed wide from three yards after being found unmarked at the back post by Blackburn's free kick.

McGhee was pleased with the contributions of Frutos and Cox, who he says has done enough to be included in the squad for the opening game against Rotherham on August 5.

McGhee said: "We brought Alex Frutos along because in the game the other night he looked a bit out of sorts, there was something not quite right with him.

"We chatted to him and encouraged him and he came in and looked much more like himself which is positive.

"I think Dean (Cox) has done terrifically well and he had certainly played himself into the 16.

He will certainly be on the bus to Rotherham."