OXFORD United’s players and staff will be mindful of the use of VAR in their Sky Bet League One play-off final against Bolton Wanderers.

With VAR not yet introduced to the third tier of English football, United’s links with it extend only to the Emirates FA Cup tie at Newcastle United during the 2019/20 season.

This afternoon’s referee, Sam Barrott, will be supported by VAR officials Peter Bankes and Sian Massey-Ellis at Stockley Park.

READ ALSO: U’s legend reflects on 2010 promotion back to the Football League

U’s head coach Des Buckingham said: “All we’ve said to them is that there is VAR. I’m speaking to a Premier League referee just about if there’s anything we need to be mindful of.

“We don’t have it in our league, so to have it in a final is surprising. We don’t have control on it, but we’ll be aware of it. There’s not too much that will change on that.”

United skipper Elliott Moore added: “We’ve had a few chats about it, and we understand it a bit more. Hopefully VAR doesn’t get involved as much as it has been in the Premier League.

“We’re just going to play our normal game, and if it gets involved, it gets involved. We’re just going to play the way we always play, and we’ll deal with it as it comes.”

Oxford Mail:

As for the Trotters, they’ve had a more recent experience with VAR, with it being in use for their FA Cup tie at Luton Town earlier this season.

Bolton head coach Ian Evatt told The Bolton News: “We have had a taste of it, which is good, with the Luton game.

“Fortunately for us there was no real controversy. I certainly don’t enjoy the Premier League games and highlights every week, seeing what is a goal, what is not a goal, not being able to celebrate. That is going to be a strange feeling.

“But we have had a taste of it, so we know what to expect.”

Veteran striker Cameron Jerome added: “We have played with it in the FA Cup, so we had a little bit of an experiment with it this year.

“Whether it is right or wrong, there is a lot on the line in a game of this magnitude, so you would like to think that sort of technology would be available to call those fractional offsides, fouls and things that the naked eye might not pick up on.”