BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness has branded tonight's game with Southampton as make or break as far as Rovers survival hopes are concerned.

Saturday's crushing defeat at the hands of rock-bottom Leicester has turned up the heat on Rovers in their battle to beat the drop.

And now he has called on his beleagured players to show the necessary satomach for a fight ahead of what he has labelled a 'must-win' game against the Saints.

"Southampton is now a game we must go out and win -- there can be no excuses," said Souness.

"Losing at Leicester was a very bad result for us.

"Okay, the other results didn't go too badly for us apart from Bolton, but that's not what's in my head right now.

"Going there and getting something was very important and we haven't done that but we can't start feeling sorry for ourselves because it's over with and we have to concentrate on the game tonight.

"We've got some big players, some international players who've been around the block several times, and they really have to show what they are made of now.

"They have to lead the way and that's going to be the key if we are going to get out of this dilemma."

Rovers have now got just seven games left to secure the three wins likely to guarantee their Premiership survival.

But Souness insists every single member of his squad is fully aware of the serious nature of their plight following a second successive away defeat.

"The players fully understand the predicament they are in and the seriousness of the situation," said Souness.

"Everyone wants to play at the highest level so it's not a case of not wanting it enough or not giving it 100 per cent.

"What we are guilty of is individuals making errors which are costing us games and that's been the story of our season.

"When we are on top we don't put sides to the sword and then we are guilty of lapses of concentration which cost us goals at the other end.

"But that's what happens to you at the highest level.

"At the end of the day, we are where we are because we haven't got enough points.

"We've not beaten Leicester in the two games we've played against them, we've lost to Derby twice and we've not beaten Bolton.

"So the truth is, we've been in this position for a while.

"Winning the Worthington Cup has just camouflaged the situation."

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ROVERS: From back page

Former Manchester City striker Paul Dickov was the destroyer-in-chief at Filbert Street after scoring twice to secure what was only the Foxes' second home win of the season.

"When we got our goal at the start of the second half I then we'd go on and win the game because we were controlling it at that point. But when we had a couple of good chances we didn't put them to the sword and when you are bossing games you've got to get your goals, especially at this level, because some time after that the other team will get chances against you which is exactly what happened."

To add to Souness's woes, Spanish hit-man Yordi is now a major doubt for tonight's game after suffering a head injury which required eight stitches on Saturday.

David Dunn (rib injury) and Damien Duff (exhaustion) are also battling to be fit for the visit of the Saints.

Rovers' squad is: Friedel, Neill, Bjornebye, Berg, Short, Johansson, Flitcroft, Dunn, Tugay, Gillespie, Duff, Unsal, Jansen, Yordi, Hughes, Hignett, Taylor, Miller.