FORMER Dell boss Dave Merrington insists an improved performance from the midfield is the key to Saints' UEFA Cup progress.

Merrington insists whoever plays across the middle must start to create more chances - both for James Beattie and Kevin Phillips AND themselves.

No Saints midfielder has scored this season in eight league and cup attempts, and Merrington said: "The midfield needs to up their tempo.

"Southampton must try to win the game, they must be positive. They can't go in with any negative thoughts.

"They must improve on their last two performances, which have been below par compared to the standards they have set themselves.

"The difference between last season when Saints were playing exceptionally well over the Christmas period and the last few games is that last season all three departments were playing well together.

"That's not the case at the moment - the midfield needs to improve, both in terms of creating chances and scoring them.

"They need someone to get beyond the opposition's defence, someone like Paul Scholes or Bryan Robson. They're both high energy players but they also liked to get forward.

"Look at the ball that put Alan Shearer in to score in the last Saints game - that's the sort of ball I'm looking for the Saints midfielders to produce.

"You should be looking at between 8-10 goals from a midfielder really and compared to that Saints are lacking.

"In the past couple of games they have given the ball away too easily, and in European football that's one thing you can't afford to do."

Merrington, who will be at the Ghencea Stadium tonight commentating for Radio Solent, added: "The first 15 to 20 minutes of each half tonight will be crucial. Saints will need to quieten the home crowd, not let Steaua get into their stride - they will need to get the ball and keep possession.

When they get the ball, they will need to counter attack positively, they will need to hit balls quickly, and the midfield will need to support the strikers.

"When Saints had that patch last season when they were as good as anybody in the country, their passing and inter-changing was superb. That's what they need to get back to. The passing has been below par.

"Saints have missed Matt Oakley, he's what I call a players' player, a steadying influence. But when one door closes, another opens and it's an opportunity for someone else.

"Saints have got a bigger and better squad than I can remember for a few years, so you have to turn a negative into a positive.

"I remember when I first went to Romania in the late 1970s as assistant manager at Leeds when Jimmy Adamson was boss.

"We played a team called University Craiova and it was the first time we'd seen a team play with two wingers and a central striker where the two wingers could drop back to form a five-man midfield.

"And when the wingers were bombing down the flanks two of the three central midfielders went forward to support the one striker.

"I'm sure Steaua surprised the Saints fans at St Mary's, and I think they surprised the team as well.

"Having said that, Southampton battered them in the second half but couldn't score enough goals.

"Romania's national team aren't as good as they once were, but the country always produces good footballers with good technique."