What a difference a few months can make.

Albion manager Mark McGhee could do nothing right according to some supporters when the Seagulls ended two seasons in the Championship back in May with a thumping 5-1 defeat at home to Stoke.

Now it seems McGhee can do no wrong after two wins and two clean sheets to kick-off life back in League One.

Jake Robinson was the hero of the Seagulls' first outing at Withdean since that Stoke horror show.

The young striker was left out of the starting line-up for last Saturday's 1-0 win at Rotherham after disappointing McGhee in the final pre-season friendly at MK Dons.

McGhee recalled him on the left wing in place of the unfortunate Dean Cox, who was suspended as a result of his red card at Rotherham.

Robinson has been used far more frequently in the past as a central or right-sided striker and McGhee might easily have opted for the more naturally left-sided Frenchman Alex Frutos or even Doug Loft.

But his selection was rewarded by the lively Robinson's well-taken winner midway through the second half.

Almost as satisfying as another three points was a second successive shut-out, with the young pairing of Joel Lynch and Adam El-Abd in commanding form again in front of impressive goalkeeper Wayne Henderson.

Albion exploited goalscorer Alex Revell's height advantage over his marker, Paul Hurst, at Rotherham on Saturday and it became evident from the early stages last night that they were intent on doing the same again.

Revell had several inches to spare over the Gills' leftback, Danny Jackman, so most of the long balls hit by the Seagulls, whether from keeper Henderson or the defenders, were aimed in Revell's direction out on the right flank.

McGhee has vowed that his team will pass and play their way out of the division and they mixed their game up well in the first half.

One of their more promising moves began with a clean catch by Henderson from a Gillingham free-kick and throw out to Paul Reid.

His pass down the line released Gary Hart for a cross which was too high for Robinson.

Reid, getting forward from rightback, was involved in several encouraging attacking thrusts in the opening 45 minutes but the final ball was often lacking.

Kelvin Jack, the Trinidad and Tobago keeper who had a trial with the Seagulls last summer, was not tested as Revell twice shot across the face of goal and Hart miskicked at the near post when well placed from a cross by Dean Hammond.

Robinson also spurned an opportunity to trouble the visiting keeper, scuffing his shot following a fine build-up involving Hammond and Reid.

The only real threat from Gillingham in the opening half hour came from set pieces, notably the long throws of their captain Michael Flynn.

Henderson had just a bobbling shot from Flynn and an angled drive from Matthew Jarvis to deal with until the visitors came closest to sneaking into an interval lead.

Andrew Crofts, having already tried his luck from long range, struck sweetly with his left foot from 25 yards shortly before the break and Henderson was at full stretch diving to his left to turn the ball behind for a corner.

Henderson, in the Republic of Ireland squad once more for next Wednesday's friendly against the Dutch in Dublin, demonstrated again what a good young prospect he is six minutes into the second half.

Gillingham broke swiftly after Tony Stokes failed to connect properly with a shot just inside the area following an Albion corner.

Flynn put Jarvis clean through the middle but Henderson timed his advance perfectly to make an important block.

The Seagulls had another scare shortly afterwards, Dean McDonald emphasising Gillingham's growing confidence with an eye-catching piece of individual skill.

The diminutive former young Ipswich striker twisted and turned past Albion captain Richard Carpenter before attempting an audacious chip from 25 yards which had Henderson back-pedalling as it narrowly cleared the bar.

Just when it seemed Gillingham might be gaining the upperhand, Albion suddenly came to life in the second half through Robinson.

He lifted the crowd in the 65th minute with a strong run at the heart of the Gillingham defence before unleashing a shot from 20 yards which flashed just wide.

The Albion fans were on their feet two minutes later when Robinson provided the all important breakthrough.

He met Reid's cross from the byline with a swivelling right foot volley ten yards out which gave Jack no chance.

Jack's angst was increased with a booking from last season's FA Cup Final referee, Alan Wiley, for running over towards the assistant to protest that Revell had taken the ball out of play in the run-up to the goal.

Robinson could have increased Albion's lead with 15 minutes left when the ball arrived at his feet inside the Gillingham box via Hammond.

His first shot was parried back to him by Jack and he blazed the follow-up wide of the target.

Gillingham could have snatched an equaliser in the closing stages, Jarvis forcing Henderson into another good stop with a low drive and Gary Mulligan getting insufficient power from the rebound to beat Henderson when he really should have scored.

On-loan Wolves centre half Keith Lowe and Colin Kazim-Richards, who was left out of the squad altogether, will be wondering now how they can force their way into the side.

Kazim-Richards, on the bench at Rotherham and then replaced by Robinson after coming on, needs to knuckle down and add application to his undoubted talent.

Albion (4-3-3): Henderson; Reid, El-Abd, Lynch, Mayo; , Stokes, Carpenter, Hammond; Revell, Hart, Robinson. Subs: Frutos for Hart (withdrawn 88), Loft for Robinson (withdrawn 90), Gatting for Revell (withdrawn 90), Kuipers, Lowe.

Gillingham (4-4-2): Jack; Jupp, Sancho, Cox, Jackman; Bentley, Flynn, Crofts, Jarvis; Mulligan, McDonald. Subs: Ndumbu-Nsungu for Crofts (withdrawn 80), Easton, Johnson, Spiller, Pouton.