PAUL Cox is delighted at the prospect of an FA Cup trip to Bristol Rovers for Barrow AFC after his side defeated Taunton in a first round replay.

A Jordan Williams stunner and an own goal from Owen Irish ensured the Bluebirds saw off the lowest-ranked team in the competition to set up a trip to the Memorial Stadium.

Cox was pleased to see a potential banana-skin avoided, while praising the Peacocks for their efforts across two matches.

“I'm over the moon,” said the Barrow boss. “All this FA Cup is about, no matter how you do it, is being in the next round.

“First and foremost, I'd like to congratulate Taunton on two superb performances. People might say we didn't play too well tonight, or we were a little bit edgy, but sometimes you have to give your opposition credit. For two games, they have worked extremely hard.

“We warned the boys they were coming up against a football club high on adrenaline again. It's amazing what this competition does to you – I've been in Taunton's position where you go to a supposedly bigger club in a higher league, and for 90 minutes those leagues are levelled out and the game becomes very even.

“We had to earn the right. I thought we matched their desire, we matched their physicality, we looked a lot more aggressive on their set-pieces and out set-pieces. We knew they were going to be strong there – we got undone in the first tie.

“Things we didn't do very well – the second half we passed the ball a little bit better, but we tried to over-complicate things a bit too much.

“I went into this game and I couldn't wait to get it out of the way. I know that might sound strange, but to be the underdogs in this competition is a massive plus – both home and away. I just said to the boys that I'm glad it's finished because we were on a hiding to nothing in both games.

“People will understand that. It's tough sometimes. Is there a pressure? I personally think there should be no pressure in football and it should be all smiles, but when you look at what could have happened in the first game and tonight, it's very easy for the tide to turn and for you to be knocked out of the cup.”

Looking ahead to to trip to Bristol on Sunday, December 4, he added: “We're over the moon. We're looking now at two home games in the league, we can sit and relax, have a look at Bristol Rovers, and we can now enjoy the FA Cup.

“I've been in this position loads of times, where you are on a hiding to nothing when you play a team below you. The pressure now reverts to the team in the higher league. We're going to enjoy it and embrace it.

“Between now and then, we've got a few league games.”

Cox held particular praise for Taunton defender Ed Palmer.

He scored Town's goal midway through the second half with a stunning free-kick, having demonstrated his intentions earlier with a solid effort which appeared goal-bound before looping off the top of the wall.

“The strike for their goal, if you saw it on Match of the Day, in the Premiership, it wouldn't look out of place,” said Cox.

“The one he hit in the first half, if it hadn't hit the wall, I think that would have been in the stanchion.”