BLACKBURN winger Morten Gamst Pedersen reckons Rovers need to make some home improvements if they are to qualify for Europe.

Ewood Park has not been the happiest of hunting grounds for Mark Hughes' side so far this term, despite their lofty position in the Premier League table.

Of the 19 games Rovers have played at home in all competitions, they have won nine, drawn five and lost five.

In the Premier League, Rovers have mustered just five wins at their Ewood HQ - the last of which came on January 2 when Sunderland were defeated 1-0.

Compare that record to last season, when Rovers won 30 of their 52 points on home soil, and it is clear a significant improvement is needed if Pedersen and his team-mates are to close the five-point gap which is separating them from top-six spot.

Determined to get his side firing on the home front, Hughes even took the unusual step of whisking his players off to a hotel the night before the last home match against Everton, in a bid to get them to reproduce the kind of form they have been showing on the road.

Pedersen said: "We have to be better at home. We stayed in a hotel (before the Everton game) - I don't know if it's something we'll do every week. It was the first time we've done it. Whether we'll do it again I don't know.

"Our home form has not been great so the manager thought he'd try something different and we didn't lose so we'll see if we do it again.

"We are still in the hunt for Europe. We went seven games unbeaten (recently) and we need to carry on that form."

With five of Rovers' remaining six home games against sides in the bottom half of the table, it's not surprising Pedersen believes they key to success lies at Ewood.

As for his own form, the Norwegian is convinced he is starting to turn the corner.

Although the normally prolific 26-year-old has just two goals to his name so far this term, both in cup competitions - the last coming against Portsmouth in the Carling Cup on October 31 - he still believes he's contributing in other ways to the team.

He added: "For me, I'm feeling fit again. I think my form is coming back, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the season.

"I haven't scored for a while but it's not just about scoring goals.

"Hopefully, I can start again and set some up maybe as well. I've just got to continue to work hard."