RORY Delap today warned his Southampton team-mates that they need to improve if they plan to take anything from tonight's clash with Rovers at Ewood Park.

The former Derby man might have scored a superb equaliser in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Fulham at St Mary's.

But that failed to banish the Saints own relegation worries and the Republic of Ireland international was desperately disappointed by what he described as a mediocre performance against Jean Tigana's men.

"I was pleased with the goal but not with the way I played or the team played," rapped Delap.

"We could have been well down by half-time but Paul Jones made some good saves to keep us in it.

"We have now drawn our last four games but we have got to start turning those draws into wins if we are going to push on.

"We need some sort of spark and hopefully we will find it tonight.

"We have had more joy away than at home recently. I am not sure why -- maybe we are a bit nervous at home.

"It has become a recurring theme lately but one we thought we had solved.

"Blackburn is a big game for us now if we are going to push forward as a team in these closing weeks.

"We are inching towards safety but still not there although we are not really looking over our shoulders.

"We are more concerned with catching teams above us but we cannot afford any more games like Saturday's. No-one was happy with that performance!"

In order to breathe new life into his flagging troops, manager Gordon Strachan is likely to make changes tonight -- but not because of Saturday's patchy display against the Cottagers.

The former Coventry chief was already planning to rotate his squad to cope with the strain of playing twice in three days and former Rovers apprentice Brett Ormerod could be among the casualties after becoming a victim of his own success.

"I told the players on Friday it would be a different team anyway.

"It would be impossible to pick the same side again.

"How can Brett Ormerod do that again?

"He was all over the place. If you play from the heart it is amazing how far you can go."

One definite absentee for Saints will be influential midfielder Chris Marsden who was sorely missed in the draw with Fulham after being ruled out by a calf problem.

"There is no way I will make tonight's game and the gaffer has told me not even to try.

"But I will be very disappointed if I am not back for Saturday's home match against Derby."