Clarets goal machine Andy Payton headed for Millwall today thriving under the burden of keeping Burnley in the promotion frame.

Payton has scored eight times in the League already this season to make him joint top-marksman in the Second Division.

And he has dominated Burnley's scoring to such an extent that the team has produced just five other goals in total - all scored by different players.

However, the in-form striker admits that he loves the responsibility that goes with the job of finding the net.

"I enjoy it. That's what I've always wanted to do and tried to do. I love scoring goals," he said.

"Obviously it would be great if some of the other lads had got five or six, but as long as I'm scoring and the team's doing okay, I'm not bothered really.

"That's what I'm there for. That's my job, to score goals and hopefully I can do that.

"And whether anyone else does or not, it doesn't matter as long as we pick up points."

Winning games is the critical issue and, despite Payton's prolific output, Burnley need to find another source of goals to maintain a promotion challenge.

Andy Cooke has only started two games this season, scoring once, and was hoping to rekindle his partnership with Payton this afternoon after three games on the bench following injury.

And the return of Cooke, who scored 20 times two seasons ago and reached double-figures last time around, could help make up the shortfall in front of goal. Either way, Payton remains a vital member of the side, having scored 43 goals in just 76 starting appearances since joining the club from Huddersfield Town in January, 1998.

And, at 31, the former Middlesbrough, Celtic, Barnsley and Huddersfield forward shows no sign of slowing up.

"I'm delighted with the start I've had to the season and you're pleased if you get double figures by Christmas, as I've always said," he added.

"I think, on the chances I've had this season, I've scored most of them so I've got to be quite happy really.

"But I want to keep it going. You can't rest on your laurels playing up front.

"You know what I'm aiming for - 200 goals and then upwards and onwards of that. But I've got another 12 to go.

"That's my target and I'm just trying to get that as soon as possible, as well as trying to get my 50 for Burnley."

The Clarets went into the hat for the first-round draw of the FA Cup which was being made live on Sky Television at around 5.30pm this afternoon.

Cambridge United, Burnley's hosts on Tuesday night, thrashed Colchester 5-2 in last night's basement battle.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.