Albion manager Mark McGhee admitted today his team are missing the galvanising qualities of suspended captain Charlie Oatway.

The Seagulls have lost two games in a row in the Championship without Oatway.

Saturday's 2-0 setback at fellow strugglers Cardiff followed the 3-2 home defeat by Derby, when the midfielder began a three-match ban for a red card at Leeds.

Albion were unbeaten for seven games until then and McGhee said: "It can't be just a coincidence. Charlie's influence is missed. He has been playing well.

"It's one of the reasons why we have to be disciplined. We cannot afford people getting sent-off. When it's important players like Charlie it costs us games."

Peter Thorne's early penalty, conceded by Kerry Mayo, and a header by James Collins three minutes later lifted Cardiff to within a point of seventh-bottom Albion with a game in hand.

McGhee is focusing only on the eight-point advantage the Seagulls still have over Gillingham in the relegation zone.

"We know what we have got to do," he said. "I've said all along we need another four wins. We are not going to lose sleep over this, there are other games for us to win.

"What we are worrying about is the bottom three. Forest didn't play, Gillingham drew and Rotherham drew, so they are one point better off than they were but they also have one game less to play.

"As long as we don't end up below any of those three then we will be in this division again next season."

Oatway completes his suspension with Saturday's visit by Sunderland, who remain third after a home victory over Watford.