Tomer Hemed will spearhead Albion’s Championship attack for only the second time since September against Cardiff at the Amex tonight after the loss of leading marksman Glenn Murray to suspension.

The FA last night rejected the Seagulls’ appeal against Murray’s red card for handball in Friday’s 2-1 home win over Sheffield Wednesday.

His one-match ban stands, so Albion are without him for a league game for the first time this season and Hemed leads the line against the Welshmen.

Starting opportunities have been few and far between for the Israel international since 15-goal Murray’s return on loan from Bournemouth for the season.

Hemed took over from Murray in last month’s 3-2 win at Blackburn Rovers but has started a Championship match at the Amex only once since September.

The renewal of Hemed’s partnership last season with Sam Baldock is dependent on the latter’s fitness. Baldock resumed training yesterday after missing the Sheffield Wednesday match with a calf injury.

The alternatives for manager Chris Hughton if Baldock is not fit are support for Hemed from Jamie Murphy, Solly March, Jiri Skalak, Anthony Knockaert or possibly even fit-again Beram Kayal in a number ten role.

Albion will regain leadership of the Championship from Newcastle if they win, although the bigger priority for Hughton is opening a commanding 11-point gap over next league hosts Huddersfield in third.

He said: “We’d like to be top. The best thing about top is there is a bigger gap and you’ve made ground on the teams below you. That’s an important aspect.

“We all expect Newcastle to be up there, because of the quality they’ve got, and the closer we can stay to them gives us, I think, the best possible chance.

“We just have to keep getting on with the games and hopefully we can win enough of them but there’s no doubt the gap below us is more important than any rivalry with Newcastle.”

Murray was sent-off on Friday by referee Stuart Attwell for blocking a shot from Wednesday skipper Glenn Loovens with his hands.

Albion’s written submission, compiled by chief executive Paul Barber and secretary Derek Allan in consultation with Hughton and Murray, used video clips to support their argument, but it was turned down by an independent FA panel.

Hughton said: “His (Murray’s) hands were up to protect his face. Also, we felt David Stockdale was in a good enough position behind him to potentially save the shot as well, so on those grounds we felt we had a good case.”

Sheffield Wednesday pair Steven Fletcher and Sam Hutchinson, sent-off subsequently by Attwell, have respectively received three and two-match bans for their offences.