CHRIS Waddle reckons Kevin Keegan must feel like Lenny Lottery, with the millions he and team boss Ray Wilkins have had to spend.

But it is tonight's TV showdown against Fulham at Craven Cottage that concerns the Burnley player-manager more than tomorrow's jackpot draw.

And Waddle isn't hedging his bets - he expects his team to prove they are far better than the shambles they appeared on their last appearance in front of the cameras, in the FA Cup drubbing by Rotherham.

The Burnley boss, who hopes to have a full squad available and could put ex-non-League striker Kevin Henderson on the bench, knows how important it is to do well tonight.

"He must feel like he's won the Lottery," said Waddle of Keegan and the Mohammed Al Fayed millions he has spent.

"Everybody is a little bit jealous but our circumstances are different, we know that and you have to get on with it.

"It's a good test for us tonight and there will be a nice audience for the game on Sky.

"They will still be thinking they can go up in the play-offs. Maybe in their own minds they are still looking at either Bristol City or Watford and thinking they can catch one of them.

"Because they aren't going to stop spending.

"But the lads are disappointed with what happened last time they were on TV and are hoping they can show people what good players they really are."

Fulham have won only four of 14 League games since Micky Adams was shown the door to allow Keegan and Wilkins to take charge.

And Waddle pointed out: "The pressure is on them rather than us, though we are both looking for a good result after defeats last week. "We had a disappointing result last Saturday and we want to make sure we get something from tonight's game.

"They will want to get back to winning ways and if we can frustrate them from the start, the crowd could start to get on their backs.

"It's a difficult game and they have a lot of new players.

"But we need a positive performance and, ideally, a win to stop the rot.

"Things go against you. Like last Saturday when the second goal changed the game.

"Steve Blatherwick held his hand up and admitted he had made a mistake.

"When you are at the bottom things like that happen."

Burnley are expected to choose from: Beresford, Brass, Blatherwick, Howey, Vinnicombe, Waddle, Ford, Harrison, Weller, Barnes, Cooke, Matthew, Smith, Williams, Moore, Henderson.

Waddle's point about pressure is valid and Wilkins today pleaded for time and patience from the Fulham fans who have seen their hopes of an immediate impact fizzle out.

Wilkins said: "There are still 72 points to play for this season. Coincidentally, 72 points is usually enough to gain a play-off place.

"The gap between us and the play-off places can be closed in a fairly short space of time. Teams are taking points off each other all the time and I believe an average of two points a game from now on would at least put us in a play-off position.

"I realise the fans are frustrated it is taking time to pull things together and I can only ask them to be patient. We are all eager for success."

Fulham are expected to choose their starting line-up from: Taylor, Lawrence, Herrera, Cullip, Neilson, Coleman, Smith, Bracewell, Scott, Peschisolido, Trollope, McAnespie, Moody, Carpenter.

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