MARIO Lemina labelled Saints’ start to the Premier League season as a ‘really big problem’.

Mark Hughes’ team have only one victory in the league since August, which came in a 2-1 win against Crystal Palace.

And Lemina thinks things need to change quickly – starting with Watford this weekend - if Saints are to avoid a repeat of last year’s struggles to avoid relegation.

The midfielder said: “I don’t know what the problem is, but it’s a really big one. We need to score.

“At the moment, we have won only once and for the rest of the season, we have to win more than that to be alive in the league.

“We know Watford is a team that we have to beat.

“At the moment we don’t have any choice, we need the three points.

“We have to give everything to get the win at home.”

If Saints fail to beat Watford at St Mary’s, it will mean that they would have picked up just one win in a calendar year at home.

Since the 4-1 victory over Everton last November, the only other team they’ve managed to beat in front of a home crowd is Bournemouth, which was over six months ago.

Lemina realises this form is alarming and believes Saints must get three points on Saturday before the team splits up for an international break.

“I expect us to win the game,” Lemina added.

“I don’t care about the way we are going to win this game, we just need to win it.

“I’m sure that all the players are doing everything on the pitch at the moment, we are just unlucky at St Mary’s.

“We can see on the pitch that we are good, we control games and try to score, but we are just unlucky.”

Watford have fallen away after a blistering start to their Premier League campaign.

The Hornets began the season winning their opening four matches but have only won two of their last seven games.

Their latest defeat came against Saints’ fellow strugglers Newcastle, which has boosted the importance of a home win.

However, Lemina knows Watford will be searching for a response, but there are weaknesses to be exploited by Hughes’ side. 

Lemina added: “We have to be careful with their two midfielders because they are really strong. 

“They have strong strikers as well, but I think their weakness can be the defence.

“I’ve not seen many videos of them yet, but I’m sure we will sit with the manager and learn their weaknesses.”