Chelsea would have been better but at least it wasn't the men from Belle Vue.
If The Reds manage to defeat Bradford City in the Second Round replay a week on Tuesday then we will entertain another fellow League One rival at Oakwell, Walsall, most probably on Saturday 7th January 2006.
The Reds in fact were drawn THE TIE before Manchester United and neither Barnsley nor Bradford will really be looking to the replay with much enthusiasm.
Still the third round would be another home tie (now our FOURTH in a row in cup competitions) after waiting so long for just one.
The Reds have only ever faced Walsall once before in the FA Cup. A 3-1 defeat back in January 1937.
But our recent home record against the Saddlers is pretty impressive. We have won the last FIVE encounters at Oakwell with Walsall not registering a victory here since 1983. Barnsley defeated Walsall at Oakwell 2-1 a couple of weeks ago ( October 29th) which moved them into the play-off places.