Four contenders for places in Albion's FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday week gained valuable game time tonight.

Tim Krul, Connor Goldson, Beram Kayal and Leo Ulloa had run-outs for the under-23s in a 1-1 draw against Southampton at the Amex.

The quartet all featured in the fourth round at home to Coventry last month. Ulloa and Goldson were both on the scoresheet in the 3-1 win against the League Two side, while Krul has recovered from a whiplash injury which forced him off at half-time.

They will be hoping for further opportunities against United, along with Kayal, depending on the strength of the line-up Chris Hughton chooses to field ahead of the international break.

In a first half against Saints short on goalmouth incident, Krul was forced into a couple of saves behind a defence marshalled by Goldson.

The former Newcastle keeper held a shot from distance by Callum Slattery and dived to grab a header from Nathan Tella.

Ulloa, partnered by Viktor Gyokeres, was starved of service. Henrik Bjordal's volley from a Kayal cross gave Southampton keeper Jack Rose a comfortable save before Albion went ahead just before the interval.

Steven Alzate met a right-wing cross from Gyokeres with a header which deflected in off Saints' defender Aaron O'Driscoll.

Krul had to be alert straight after half-time to block away Jake Hesketh's shot inside the box with his legs after a mistake by Goldson's partner Tom Dallison.

Ulloa, in a rare sight of goal, had appeals for a penalty rejected when his close range effort appeared to be blocked by a hand.

Armani Little equalised for Southampton in the 74th minute with a far post header when Krul failed to reach a corner.

Kayal and Ulloa both picked up bookings as the under-23s stretched their unbeaten run in all competitions to eight games.

Albion (4-4-2): Krul; Forbes, Goldson, Dallison, Cox; Alzate, Kayal, Sanders, Bjordal; Gyokeres, Ulloa.

Subs: Connolly for Gyokeres (60), Tilley for Bjordal (67), Moore, Sanchez, Mateu.

Southampton (4-1-2-3): Rose; Rowthorn, Jones, O'Driscoll, Vokins; Little; Slattery, Hesketh; Tella, Obafemi, Johnson.

Subs: Olomola for Tella (64), Klaver, Latham, O'Connor, M'Oklose.