Albion may not be performing as fluently in general play as some fans would like.

But in one important area Chris Hughton and his coaching staff have induced a spectacular turnaround as they head into a quickfire triple test which could have a significant impact on the Premier League table.

One of the negative features of last season's success in surviving after promotion was the number of goals Albion conceded from set plays.

And their failure to convert themselves from corners, free-kicks and penalties.

They were especially vulnerable in the first half of the campaign.

Steve Mounie's two goals for tomorrow's hosts Huddersfield, for example, which sent the Seagulls home empty-handed from West Yorkshire last December (below), both came via corners.

The Argus: Although Albion improved as the season wore on, they still ended up leaking 21 goals in total from set plays.

That was easily the most in the division. Watford were next-worst with 17.

On the reverse side of the coin, Albion scored themselves five times from dead-ball situations. Ironically, only Huddersfield (four) had a lower tally.

Glenn Murray's header from a corner against Leicester at the Amex on Saturday, following headers via set plays by Lewis Dunk at Cardiff and Everton, are indicative of the transformation.

Figures provided by whoscored.com show Albion have already beaten last season's set piece total.

Their running total of six is bettered only by Liverpool and Spurs, both with seven.

Burnley (6) and Huddersfield (5) have been effective too but not Tuesday's Amex visitors Crystal Palace (0).

To put that into context, Albion and their next two away opponents have scored 15 of their combined 35 goals (43 per cent) from set plays.

Albion's defensive improvement in this regard in the second half of last season has carried through to this season as well.

Three goals conceded puts them below only Bournemouth, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City.

Everton, Newcastle and Cardiff have all let in twice as many via the set play route.

In fact, overall, Hughton's side are doing rather better in scoring goals than their critics might imagine.

Fourteen in 13 games places them joint 11th, a place higher than their position in the table.

Even away from home, where the perception is Albion are ultra-cautious, their five goals is as many or more than four other teams.

They have also been disadvantaged by trips already to the top two, Manchester City and Liverpool.