BRISTOL Rovers head coach Paul Trollope is backing Cherries to follow in the Pirates' footsteps by negotiating a tricky FA Cup first hurdle at Barrow.

Trollope's charges edged past the non-league outfit at the same stage of the competition last season before going on to oust Cherries in the second round.

Rovers raced into a 3-0 lead at Barrow's Holker Street headquarters and were then forced to hang on after the Bluebirds scored twice to set up a grandstand finale.

Speaking to the Daily Echo following Cherries' win at Rovers six days ago, Trollope was asked what Kevin Bond's men could expect from their visit to the north west outpost.

"A tough task," he replied. "We won there last year but it was all set for an FA Cup upset. It is a tight little ground and the surroundings aren't great.

"But if Bournemouth perform like they did against us, I'm sure they will be absolutely fine. If they show the same application and play as they did against us, I can see them going through."

Rovers' victory at Holker Street hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons when Barrow's James Cotterill was caught on camera punching Sean Rigg in an off-the-ball incident.

The defender, who is no longer at the club, was subsequently charged with grievous bodily harm and sent to prison for four months after pleading guilty to the offence.

Barrow are expected to recall former Barnsley and Oldham midfielder Darren Sheridan, who has just completed a four-match ban.

The 39-year-old helped the Tykes beat Manchester United in a fifth round replay in 1998 and is hoping to be a part of another giant-killing feat against Cherries.

Sheridan said: "The lads will be a bit nervous to start with, but once we get started, we will forget who we are playing against."