Roberto De Zerbi said his Albion side have hit a tough patch after their draw at Marseille, writes Anujit Vijayakumar.

But he was proud of their efforts to force a 2-2 draw.

De Zerbi said: “I want to be honest. We're not playing well. It's a very tough period for us. It's difficult for us to show our quality."

The Italian, however, spoke highly of his players, pleased with the resolve they displayed and reflected on the game on what was a dramatic night for his side as they fought their way back to a stalemate.

He said:“But it's important playing with heart, with passion. I’m really proud of the performance today.

"I’m really, really proud of my players after the 6-1 defeat at Villa Park and the second goal to close the second half, the reaction (from 2-0 down) was incredible.

"“We didn’t deserve to lose the game absolutely. I think if we score in the last part of the first half we could win the game. I’m sorry for the result, because I think we deserve more.

“We can lose the game, but we can't lose our DNA, our spirit, our bravery, our passion.

"This season it will be important to adapt. This result can help us in this way.".