Pascal Gross knows what the English think of German penalty-takers.

But he said that doesn’t make his life any easier on the hot spot.

Gross nudged Albion closer to safety by beating Hugo Lloris from 12 yards as Albion drew with Tottenham.

He added the spot-kick to three he converted in the second half of last season for Bundesliga outfit Ingolstadt.

Gross was handed spot-kick duties after Glenn Murray’s effort in the recent home game against Leicester was saved.

He said: “The gaffer decided that I am on penalties.

“Last season I did the last penalties at Ingolstadt.

“It was not the easiest penalty I have ever taken but that is where you have to show your quality under pressure.

“I am very happy I put it in.”

Gross was reminded of Germany’s shoot-out record against England in major competitions.

He replied: “We are very good at penalties but that doesn’t mean that, because I’m from Germany, I can put every penalty in!

“Every penalty is very hard and it’s a very good goalkeeper so you have to be concentrated.”

Murray, who has scored four from six this season, was among the first to congratulate Gross when he scored.

He said: “It was the gaffer’s decision. I respect him as a manager, he’s my boss and that was his decision – and it turned out to be the right one.

“We don’t really practise them in training but Pascal has always been second on the list throughout the season.

“With me missing my second one it was only right Pascal got his chance.”

Gross said farewell to Ingolstadt by putting a penalty past Schalke goalkeeper Ralf Fahrmann on the final day of the 2016-17 Bundesliga campaign.

The Argus:

Gross converts against Tottenham

He would have stepped up in the heat of a derby had Albion been awarded a penalty at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Albion midfielder Dale Stephens said: “The decision was made a couple of weeks ago. Pascal has been telling us he had a good track record.

“It was a big moment for us in the game after conceding a sloppy goal.”

 

Gross’s strike earned Albion only a third point this season in games in which they have fallen behind.

It was his sixth goal of the season and it also put the record straight for German spot-kick takers in Seagulls colours.

The Argus:

Uwe Huenemeier misses at Stevenage

Uwe Huenemeier stepped up first in a Checkatrade Trophy shoot out at Stevenage last season and, in far from German style, blazed his penalty over the bar.

But Albion’s youngsters still won the penalty shootout 4-3.