Albion have turned to Wimbledon's regular loan ranger Wayne Gray to solve their triple striker crisis.

Boss Peter Taylor has signed the 21-year-old ahead of today's transfer deadline for the rest of the season, including the possibility of the play-offs.

His arrival coincides with a surprise two-match ban for Daniel Webb, who now joins the injured Bobby Zamora and suspended Lee Steele on the sidelines for part of the promotion run-in.

Gray's move to the Seagulls will be his fourth spell on loan in the space of three seasons.

He scored twice in 12 League appearances for Swindon in 1999-2000, then played three games for Brian Horton's Port Vale last term.

Gray recently returned to the Dons from Leyton Orient, where he found the net six times.

Taylor said: "He is very quick and powerful, the type of player we want in the circumstances.

"I've taken everything into consideration, including pitches which are likely to be more bumpy now. We might need a darting centre forward."

Gray's first team opportunities at Wimbledon have been limited since he joined them as a trainee and gave up an alternative career as a sprinter. He could partner Webb at Colchester on Saturday.

Webb misses Monday's home game against Bristol City and the trip to Peterborough on April 6.

His ban follows remarks made to ref Chris Foy after the match at Oldham on February 9.

Webb had been controversially booked for diving in the first half of the 2-0 defeat at Boundary Park. It was his tenth yellow card of the season, seven of them for his previous club Southend, and it cost the teenager a two-match suspension.

Taylor said: "He had words with the ref and was reported. He has been fined by the club and the FA, but to me what went on was very minor and to get two matches when a lot of people have been let off with warnings for things like elbowing is a bit harsh."

Zamora misses the matches against Colchester, Bristol City and Peterborough with a dislocated shoulder, while Steele is ruled out of the last two games at home to Swindon on April 13 and at Port Vale on April 20.

Meanwhile, Steve Melton's season could be over. He pulled a hamstring in the reserves' 3-2 win at Peterborough on Monday.

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