Glenn Hoddle is demanding there is no let-up in tempo from players or fans tomorrow as Saints reach a major crossroads in their season.

The Southampton boss has pinpointed the home game against Derby as a major marker which can determine whether his side will push on into mid-table or face a winter of worry.

And he wants to see the same intensity on and off the field as there was in the two previous outings at The Dell which brought victories against Leeds and Tottenham.

He said: "Just because Derby are below us, it does not mean we can afford to ease up. We have lost too many games at home to sides behind us in the table.

"This is a massive match for us, bigger in many ways than the one against Spurs. And the players and fans have to be aware of that.

"The supporters have been absolutely superb in the last two fixtures here and they played a substantial role in helping us to win both.

"We need them to be up for this one twice as much because it is so vital. We are at a crossroads and the supporters have to realise they can help us up into mid-table.

"It is there for us now. We have had opportunities like this before but have failed to take them.

"Now we must make sure we do not take our foot off the pedal because we have not achieved anything until we get right up into that middle bracket which has been our aim all season.

"The victory against Spurs was good but only if we follow it up with another win. The encouraging thing though was the way we have developed.

"Against Chelsea we went two up and had our backs to the wall as they came back to level, against Villa we went 2-0 in front and had to endure a spell of 15 or 20 minutes of pressure.

"Against Tottenham there was not even a spell which was very encouraging and we have to show the same determination and discipline tomorrow."

Matthew Oakley is again likely to be missing with a back problem although he has a chance of making Monday's game at Liverpool.

Also out of the midfield is Chris Marsden with a groin injury. He said: "I felt it after two or three minutes of the game. I tried to run it off but I could not push off at all."

But there is better news of Mark Draper who looks set to shake off the dead leg which forced him off against Spurs.

And Hoddle has more midfield options with Hassan Kachloul and Kevin Gibbens both available following one-match bans while Trond Soltvedt is strongly back in the frame.

After two months out with a groin problem the Norwegian returned to action as a substitute against Spurs and hit the bar in a busy display to stake a strong claim for a starting berth.