SOMETIMES it's better the devil you know. And that certainly applies to tomorrow's FA Cup tie at Millwall.

Telford was a banana skin I'm quite happy to avoid, thank you very much. And in my view, playing Millwall gives us a much better chance of reaching the last eight.

I'm pretty sure Stan will have worked on the assumption they would beat Telford, and all Burnley's work on the training ground this week will have been tailored to their strengths.

That means the lads will be much better prepared than if we were up against a maverick non-league outfit.

I also think Stan has the edge over rookie boss Dennis Wise. In my view, the former England midfielder doesn't have the make-up to become a top manager.

He has had many ups and downs as a player, and sometimes he's been happy to cross the line. Players can sometimes carry a trait like that into management, and I just think Dennis's whole make-up and character is not suited to being in charge, rather than just one of the lads.

Stan, on the other hand, is wholly focused and methodical and will have every angle worked out to try and give himself the advantage.

We also go there in a confident frame of mind, having shored up the leaky defence this year, so I don't think we need have any fear about this so-called Lions den!

One area Stan still does need, however, to address is luring another striker to the club. Last weekend's scrappy 1-0 win over Gillingham emphasised just how thin on the ground we are in this area.

Without Blake probing and causing problems, we lacked any killer punch and it's a worrying thought that we may have to fight or way out of trouble with just Robbie and Ian Moore up front.

I know Stan is constantly looking to add to his numbers, and we can only hope the financial situation we find ourselves embroiled in allows for some leeway because the alternative would be catastrophic.

Certainly right now, I think every Burnley fan would take a nice, safe passage into mid-table come May.

In a curious repeat of last season, we are slowly finding the FA Cup taking over in the excitement stakes - even if the draws so far haven't necessarily got the blood pumping.

However, a result at Millwall - and I would imagine the chairman would be more than happy with a replay - and maybe that big fish that keeps wiggling off the hook will finally be landed.

Everyone is a lot happier in recent weeks following the unbeaten run, and we are nearing that 40 point mark that is almost at the finishing line.

Once you get to 40, it's downhill from there, so a quarter final trip to either Manchester United or Arsenal would suit most people just fine.

It's all achievable - and it all starts right here!