BRADFORD underdog Joe Cullen heads into the biggest match of his pro darts career tonight by warning world champion Michael van Gerwen: You’ve always found it tough against me.

The former Wyke postman has the unenviable task of trying to unseat van Gerwen in the Dutchman’s first defence of his crown at a packed Alexandra Palace.

Cullen has never won at the world championships in four previous attempts – and the bookies are giving him no chance of dumping the tournament’s top seed.

But the 25-year-old said: “Out of everyone Michael could have drawn, he’s probably got the worst record against me.

“I beat him in the Players’ Championship in Dublin in October and I’ve won lots of times against him, quite often 6-0 or 4-0. But he’s never beaten me comfortably – it’s always been 6-4 or 6-5.

“I’m not going to lie. It’s a bad draw.

“When you hear players saying they don’t mind who they’re drawn against, they never mean it.

“When you are watching the draw, you want anyone (seeded) from 16 downwards. But it could be harder – it could have been Phil Taylor.”

Van Gerwen has banked a whopping £918,100 in prize money this year. Cullen, currently ranked world number 44, has earned £39,050 in contrast.

The champion is an unbackable 1/33 in the odds to breeze through their 10pm showdown.

Cullen, who was knocked out by losing finalist Peter Wright a year ago, insists the expectation is all on his opponent.

“It’s different to when I’ve turned up before,” he added. “People have expected a close game and I’ve let myself down a bit.

“This time everyone’s expecting me to get beaten 3-0 and go home. There’s no pressure from outside.

“But I put pressure on myself. A lot of people will ask ‘what’s he been taking’ but I think I can win.

“I’m not going to be like a boxer saying I’m going to knock him out and do this and that. But if I play as well as I can, then I know I’ve got a good chance.

“There are always surprise results at the world championship. There’s no bigger shock than the defending champion going out in the first round.”

Cullen was outgunned last time by two big finishes from Wright, who clinched their match with a 151 check-out. He has not won a set at the Ally Pally since his debut year in 2010.

He said: “The key is to get a quick start. For the last four years, I’ve found myself two sets down with a mountain to climb.

“If I can get that first set then he will know he is in danger.

“I know he shows a lot of emotion on the stage but he hides how he is really feeling quite well.

“Some players try to put off their opponents by doing things like slowing the game down. But you can’t do anything like that with Michael.

“People like Peter Manley are the masters at it but it’s not for me. I know some call it gamesmanship but I personally think it’s cheating.

“If you are trying consciously to put him off, it just takes away the concentration from your own game.

“My six-year-old son Travis is going to be there cheering me on and he thinks I’ll win 3-0. He is probably the only one!”