BARROW AFC will face Carlisle United conquerors Rochdale in the third round of the FA Cup.

With fans in the Crossbar hoping for a draw against Premier League opposition, there were groans as Barrow – in only the second tie out of the hat – were paired with League One Dale.

To make matters worse, Manchester United were the next team out of the hat, provoking questions of what might have been.

Manager Paul Cox, speaking on BBC2, said: “The chairman will be happy at least, because it’s at home. It’s at home and were happy with that.”

Adam Brown, 22, was among the dozens watching the draw in the Crossbar at Holker Street, and said: “It could have been better. You always dream of that big club but we will take the draw at home. If you look at their away form, it isn’t the best, so I don’t see why we can't win it.”

AFC reached the third round for the 12th time in their history with a 2-1 win at Rochdale’s League One rivals Bristol Rovers on Sunday – Byron Harrison scoring both the goals.

Barrow have never reached the fourth round of the competition, but a home draw does at least give them a chance of putting that competition record to bed.

Dale sit eight places above Rovers in League One and won 2-0 at Carlisle in the first round on Saturday.

Read Paul Cox's full reaction here .

FULL THIRD ROUND DRAW

Ipswich v Lincoln or Oldham

Barrow v Rochdale

Manchester United v Reading

Hull v Swansea

Sunderland v Burnley

QPR v Blackburn

Millwall v Bournemouth

West Ham v Manchester City

Brighton v Charlton or MK Dons

Blackpool v Barnsley

Wigan v Nottingham Forest

Birmingham v Newcastle

Chelsea v Notts County of Peterborough

Middlesbrough v Sheffield Wednesday

West Brom v Derby

Everton v Leicester

Liverpool v Newport County of Plymouth

Wycombe v Stourbridge or Northampton

Watford v Burton

Preston v Arsenal

Cardiff v Fulham

Stoke v Wolves

Cambridge v Leeds

Bristol City v Shrewsbury or Fleetwood

Huddersfield v Port Vale

Tottenham v Aston Villa

Brentford v Halifax or Eastleigh

Bolton v Crystal Palace

Norwich v Southampton

Sutton United v AFC Wimbledon

Accrington Stanley v Luton

Rotherham v Oxford or Macclesfield

Ties will take place between January 6 and January 9.