It may have been one of the more low-key signings of the close season but Alex Revell has wasted no time in making a mark with Albion.

Ever since his opening day winner at Rotherham, Revell has been instrumental in the Seagulls' encouraging start to the campaign.

The former Braintree marksman is the only striker to have started all five matches and his developing relationship with Paul Reid on the right hand side of the pitch secured Albion's place in the second round of the Carling Cup.

Reid played a one-two with Revell to slot the late winner against Boston at Withdean on Wednesday.

That wasn't the newcomer's first assist - he also provided the cross for Jake Robinson to tap Albion into a first half lead at Nottingham Forest last Saturday.

All in all Revell has made quite an impact and Reid is hoping that continues when Albion entertain Crewe on Sunday.

"I think all the fans can see the sort of player he is," Reid said. "He's made a huge impact with the boys and I am sure with the supporters.

"He's a great player to have in front of you. We are definitely building a good combination and that helped with the goal.

"He played a big part. He comes short sometimes and Dean Hammond goes long, he goes long sometimes and Dean Hammond comes short, so we are getting a good understanding and I am very happy playing with him.

"Everyone knows the boys at Brighton get on well together and he has certainly fitted in very well.

"He knew Dean beforehand and he travels down with Gary Hart. He has a good joke with the boys and the understanding between us means when we do good things together then we give each other a lot of confidence and high fives.

"We really do talk to each other in the game and that really has helped with my game. I am sure it has helped with his as well."

The strapping Revell's leading role has been all the more commendable, considering that he is really playing out of position on the right flank.

He has occasionally been switched to the middle and could become an effective partner for a target man if manager Mark McGhee lands Hull's Ben Burgess or another hold-up performer before the transfer window shuts next week.

McGhee said: "He's being asked to do a job that isn't necessarily the one he is absolutely suited to out on the right hand side.

"He did go up the middle eventually on Wednesday and he worked so hard but we've still got to channel his energy. He is a player that needs a lot of work but we are delighted with him."

Crewe finished four points above Albion in the Championship relegation zone last season and Dario Gradi's side usually get the better of the exchanges between the clubs, as Reid has already found to his cost.

"We only took a point off them last year and the season before we lost 3-1 both times, so we've got to put one over them," said the versatile and goal-hungry Australian.

"They had a good result at Grimsby in the Carling Cup, so they are going to come down here with a lot of confidence.

"It's been a bit more difficult to get forward in the League games. We have been trying to concentrate on being very solid defensively and keeping clean sheets.

"Everyone knows I like getting forward. I guess I'm a more attacking minded player than normal rightbacks.

"I think I got two goals last year, hopefully I can get double that. It's very difficult when you are playing at rightback but I had a feeling I was going to get on the scoresheet the other night after a session in training when I was banging in the goals."

Crewe's porous defence will be tested by Reid and his colleagues but McGhee regards Sunday's encounter as another key indicator of Albion's capability to mount a promotion challenge.

"They had a great result away from home, winning 3-0 at Grimsby," he said. "They've had a mediocre start by Dario's standards in this division and maybe they are coming into form, so we can expect a very difficult game.

"They are always good games against Crewe. We are playing football, they play football, and it should be entertaining stuff.

"If we are going to be in the shake-up at the end of the season it's one of the games we'd like to win. I don't think Crewe will be far away, like Forest there or thereabouts. It will be a measure again of where we are at."