FULL-BACK Nick Anderton expects FA Cup underdogs Taunton Town to make life ‘horrible’ for Barrow AFC on Sunday.

The Southern League Division One South and West side sit three divisions below Barrow in the footballing pyramid and have won through five rounds already.

It is only the second time in their history the Peacocks have reached the first round proper – the first coming in 1981 – and the Somerset side will be all out to cause an upset.

But Anderton says he and his Barrow team-mates are ready for anything their lower-league opponents throw at them in an attempt to put them off their game, with the Bluebirds determined to carry on a run of form which has seen them go 15 matches unbeaten in all competitions.

“It’s going to be one of those games when you have seen all the upsets over the years, but we need to be professional and go and do the job on the day,” said 20-year-old Anderton, who scored his first Barrow goal in the 4-0 victory over Eastleigh last weekend.

“We’ve spoken in training and we know what to expect when we go there.

“They are going to make it horrible, they’re going to try and get in our heads – it’s a typical FA Cup tie. We need to continue doing what we have been doing and get the job done – go there and get the result. We’ve had a good run in the league, we’ve done well, and we just need to continue.”

Victory over Taunton would see Barrow reach the second round for the first time since 2012, with the potential for their first third-round adventure since their memorable trip to Premier League Sunderland in 2010 on the horizon.

Anderton recognises there is still a way to go before that dream can become a reality, but he admits to having thought about the prospect of facing one of the game’s big teams.

“If we get into the second round, then say we get another tie with a team who are at a similar level to us, then we’ve got it all to play for to get that big team in the third round, which is great for the club and all the players,” he said.

“Some of the lads in the group have played in big games. When Hughesy (Liam Hughes) was at Cambridge, they got (Manchester) United in the FA Cup, and there are a few other lads who have experienced it. Me being a young player, I want to experience that as well.”

Anderton grew up as a Preston North End supporter and was part of the PNE set-up before signing a two-year deal with Barrow in the summer – including spending several loan spells at Holker Street from Deepdale.

But, despite his strong connections with the Championship side, he still would prefer to face the likes of Manchester United should Barrow overcome the tricky obstacle at Taunton and make it though another tie after that.

“You can’t look past the teams like United and Liverpool – United away would be unbelievable,” Anderton said when asked about a dream tie should AFC make progress. “Growing up, getting a game at Old Trafford, that was always the pick of the bunch.”