Pascal Gross has revealed the half-time message which set up Albion for a fightback at Marseille.

The Seagulls recovered from a 2-0 deficit to claim a 2-2 draw at the Stade Velodrome.

Gross, scorer of so many important goals, set them on the way with a strike on his return from injury.

He said Roberto De Zerbi sensed a comeback helped by the way his side had ended the first half.

What duly happened put Albion fans - already having the time of their lives - on a wave of euphoria all the way back to England. 

Gross told The Argus: “The gaffer just said if we played like those ten minutes, like we are capable of playing, then we are still in the game.

“He said, ‘We don’t lose this game today’, that was his feeling.

“If we adapt to little things and play our football, with the fight we showed in difficult circumstances we are still in this game.

“What we said was we couldn’t concede one more.

“If we don’t concede any more we are capable of scoring goals.

“We know we are creating chances in every single game, that’s not a problem. We can improve on the other side.”

Albion seemed to suffer stage fright at times in the first half but then expressed themselves amid the incessant din of the Velodrome.

Asked what effect the atmosphere had on a player, Gross said: “It’s a joy for me, personally.

“I work really hard to play in games so I want to enjoy them.

“And then it is on us. If we play well, the atmosphere is not as good.

“If we aren’t playing well, the atmosphere is incredible and then it gets difficult.

“That is where even more you show your character.

“You have to come back into the game with our basics, our football, our winning battles over second balls.

“You have to do the other side of the game well and find a way back into the game and we did that.”

De Zerbi felt Albion played 30% as well as they can and are going through a tough period.

They have not been at their best for more than glimpses of games since the 3-1 win at Manchester United three weeks ago.

But they secured a precious point and denied Marseille two on a night when the other game in Group B also finished in a draw.

Gross said: “We are not playing our best football.

“We didn’t play our best football today, not even close.

“We are still creating chances but it’s not as controlled as we normally play.

“Normally we show more control, create maybe even more chances.

“We are not sloppy normally but it is the first time, an away game in Europe.

“When you are not on your best day what can you do?

“All of us doing your job, we can give our best.

“We can fight, we can do the simple things well and, all of a sudden, the more complicated things will come before you even notice.

“Things open up when you play simple and fight and we showed good character.”

Gross was asked about the fans’ enjoyment of the comeback as he spoke to the media after Thursday’s game – and a smile spread across his face.

He was clearly delighted to give the noisy almost 3,000 something to enjoy.

Gross said: “It was incredible. It was amazing when we came out and they were all there.

“The numbers and the way they supported us, that for me makes the point even more special.

“For me, it was a special moment.

“I have been here for quite a long time now and seeing some happy faces at the first away game, Marseille away, that we could give them at least a result, not a win but a result after 2-0 down, I think they go out of the stadium with a really good feeling.

“That was for me the most positive thing because they have always been amazing but today was special for them.”

Gross now looks to the visit of Liverpool against a backdrop of VAR-related controversy involving the Reds last week.

Ironically, the chaos came at Tottenham, where Albion were on the wrong end of a handful of poor decisions last season.

While events involving Luis Diaz’s disallowed goal have made headlines this week, rather more quietly it has been noted that VAR should have ruled out two Aston Villa goals against the Seagulls last Saturday.

Correct calls there would have left the hosts with only a 1-0 lead rather than out of sight before half-time.

Asked about the Liverpool furore, Gross said: “I think we had the same thing last season at Crystal Palace.

“We scored a goal and we went 1-0 up and it was onside but it was not given.

“Or Tottenham away was also a frustrating day for us.

“But that has gone. We look forward.

“I feel for them (Liverpool) because I have been there last year.

“I just hope we can play a good game and the better team wins without the referee having any impact on both sides.

“The referee is always under pressure, like we players are under pressure.

“A lot of media, a lot of fans.

“They have ten slow-mo’s all the time so there will always be discussions or complaints one way or the other.

“That’s football. We players are always happy when the better team wins without the referee having any impact and I think the referee is happy as well if that is the case.”