MARK Wotte has told fans tonight's crucial match against Derby County will be much better entertainment than watching the Champions' League.

Some supporters might be tempted by the draw of Liverpool v Real Madrid or Juventus v Chelsea on television this evening, writes GORDON SIMPSON.

However, Saints' head coach is hoping as many people as possible will pack into St Mary's in a bid to roar the team on to a third successive home win.

In fact, so focused is Wotte on victory tonight, that he admitted he didn't really know, or care, who was playing in Europe.

He said: "Well, St Mary's for Southampton against Derby County is much more fun than what is it, Man United against Juventus or something?

"I don't know, I don't care.

"We are working for our club and our future and the rest I don't care about."

Wotte will be hoping Saints can attract over 15,000 for a midweek home league game for the first time this season.

The other five midweek crowds - 13,257 (Sheff Utd), 14,226 (Coventry), 14,480 (Norwich), 14,895 (Plymouth) and 14,916 (Ipswich) - have all been well under the 2008/09 Championship stadium average of 16,661.

Wotte added: "The fans have been excellent the last couple of weeks.

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"At Birmingham City they were very supportive, at Ipswich there were a lot of fans supporting us and St Mary's was a great stadium to play in the last two home matches.

"First we have to give them a performance and we have to have a good match and then they will support us.

"Hopefully they can support us from the first minute and get behind the team.

"I'm very pleased with the fans at the moment and I'm sure the fans are pleased with the team.

"Always the relationship between the two is affected by results and the way you play, but the fans are also happy that we give 100 per cent every game."

Full story and more Saints v Derby previews in today's Daily Echo.