SOUTHAMPTON defender Claus Lundekvam has told his team-mates they must dig in and battle hard if they are to clinch their long-awaited first home victory at their new St Mary's Stadium home.

The Saints are yet to taste success after moving to the £30million venue at the start of the season - losing their first three matches and then drawing 3-3 against Ipswich last week, despite leading 3-1.

Lundekvam knows how important it is for Southampton to claim their first home win as soon as possible, to boost their bid to turn the ground into a fortress like their old stadium at The Dell.

The Saints face Blackburn tomorrow, and Lundekvam said: "It seems that at the moment we're punished for every single mistake we make - which happens when things aren't going your way.

"Everyone knows we have not won at home yet, and we're all desperate to get that first home win to lift the club and the supporters. We just have to dig in and try and scrape a result."

Lundekvam is facing a battle to recover from a hamstring injury in time to take his place in Gordon Strachan's starting line-up, after limping out of the 2-1 defeat at Fulham last weekend.

Midfielder Chris Marsden returns to the side following a one-match ban, but defender Francis Benali is still a doubt with a groin strain while Matthew Le Tissier is sidelined by a hamstring injury.

Ciccio Grabbi will miss tomorrow's game after spraining knee ligaments against Leicester on Monday and Damien Duff is a definite non-starter after failing to recover from a hamstring problem.

Martin Taylor is back in contention.