Israeli striker Hemed netted a superb near-post diving header 18 minutes into the second half.

He played a major role in Bright’s first Premier League win of the season, setting up Pascal Gross for the team’s second goal 15 minutes earlier.

It had looked as if Hemed, 30, would leave the Seagulls in August after Reading reportedly offered £9.5 million. But Brighton decided keep Hemed after failing to sign the strikers the club was pursuing.

Hemed told Israel's Radio 102FM: "The media exaggerated the likelihood that I was leaving. The club wanted to keep me and it’s very flattering that the club is prepared to invest so much in me and I'm happy that I've started proving myself.

"We waited a long time to score and to win but the victory changes everything."