By Simon Gray
The FA Cup Second Round is here and hoping to earn a place in Round Three are League One Bristol Rovers as they entertain National League side Barrow.
Rovers were able to scrape past Crawley Town in the last round where as Barrow also avoided a scare by beating minnows Taunton Town in a replay.
But Rovers Assistant Manager Marcus Stewart knows that they must be on their game and treat it like any other match due to Barrow’s 21-league and cup game unbeaten run.
“We are at home and are expected to beat Barrow. That brings with it its own type of different pressure.” He told the Bristol Post.
“The league is our main priority, but cup runs are a bonus. There is always a different feel about the place in the preparation days leading up to a cup game.
“It is an exciting one, though, because both teams know that there might be a big prize at the end of it for the winner.”
Rovers will be without Will Puddy who is ineligible and also Steve Mildenhall and Jake Clarke-Salter who are injured.
Barrow go into the game sitting a well placed fourth in the National League and will have nothing to fear going into the match.
Skipper Danny Livesey has said he knows what it will take to win and that is silence the home fans.
“I played Bristol quite a few times, I’ve been down there a lot,” he told the North West Evening Mail.
“I’ve not played against them too much recently because we have been in different leagues.
“They’re very passionate people down there and there are normally a lot of fans. I can’t see it being any different on Sunday. There will be a lot of fans there, they are quite close to the pitch, they get right behind the team, and it will get a little bit hostile.
“It will be nice to go out and try and shut the fans up, which is what you want to do when it comes to away games. As soon as you get them quiet, then you know you are getting the upper hand.”
Barrow will have on loan Goalkeeper Tim Erlandsson making only his second appearance for the club due to only arriving last week from Nottingham Forest.
Stats
These two teams met in the First Round of the FA Cup in the 2006/07 season with Rovers prevailing 3-2 at Holker Street.
This will only be the eighth time these two sides have met, Rovers boast a better record with four wins to Barrow’s two.
Barrow striker Byron Harrison has a 100% record from the penalty spot this season, six of his 17 goals have come from 12 yards out.
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