Albion are heading for a test by one of the Championship’s top set-piece teams.

And boss Chris Hughton will demand improvement from his league line-up after their League Cup counterparts conceded an untidy goal from a corner.

Hughton is preparing his side to face Barnsley, who have six goals already from corners and free-kicks.

Newcastle top the table with nine, including two against the Seagulls, while Nottingham Forest have eight.

The surprise package Reds from South Yorkshire pride themselves on the dead-ball delivery of Conor Hourihane and Adam Hammill, usually aimed towards their centre-backs.

Hughton saw his side leak a messy set-piece strike to Reading on Tuesday and said: “Both goals we conceded were poor.”

Barnsley have a doubt over left-back Adie White, who has a thigh strain, and have four strikers vying for two places as, like Albion, they bid to bounce back from a 2-1 home defeat by ten-man Reading.

Albion are set to make wholesale changes for their return to Championship action.