Russell Martin has revealed how his children have been showing their Southampton colours in Brighton.

The Saints boss will be back in his home city as his team visit Albion.

He said: “I have a lot of people in the crowd that I know will shout some abuse at me.

“My kids are desperate for me to win because they go to a school of all Brighton fans, and they will be in their Southampton shirts and their tracksuits.

“I split my time between there and here, because I love being part of this club and part of this city, but my kids are in Brighton, they go to school there, so of course I have to have a home there as well.

“Of course, it will mean a lot to a lot of people around me but it’s a game we’re desperate to win, and all the rest will come after I’m sure.”

Martin has been to the Amex as an away manager before, when his Swansea City side were defeated in the Carabao Cup.

He will not have Adam Lallana to help him on the pitch.

The former Seagulls midfielder went off injured against another of his old clubs Liverpool last Sunday.

Martin said Lallana is set to be sidelined for “the next couple of games”, while forward Paul Onuachu faces a late fitness test.

Southampton re bottom of the table but led Liverpool in the second half and generally have a good record at the Amex.

Martin would love to add to that.

He said: “Supporters, the staff here, the ownership, they have been brilliant, so I have to go off that feeling, and if that feeling changed at some point, maybe I would feel a bit more fragile, a bit more concerned.

“And I think it just comes back to, we know who we are. We know what we’re here to do. We are trying our very best to do that.

“We try and manage it with love and care, as if the boys, the players, were ours and give it everything we’ve got.

“And it is hard work, and there are sleepless nights because you care so much, but you just have to trust that eventually it will pay off and come good, and it always has done so far.”