Oxford United’s players have been practising penalties – in case today’s second leg has to be settled by spot-kicks.

There is no away goals rule in the play-offs, so if today’s match is level at 90 minutes, it goes to 30 minutes of extra time whatever.

If the teams are still deadlocked at the end of extra time, then there’s a penalty shoot-out to determine the winner, and who goes through to the final at Wembley on May 16.

As England have found to their cost against Germany in the World Cup finals, and as Oxford experienced three years ago against Exeter, going out on penalties is the most painful exit there is.

Some pundits, and managers, believe nothing can replicate the pressure of stepping up to take one in front of a big crowd, but the U’s have been practising hard in training to make sure nothing is left to chance.

Adam Chapman, the team’s main spot-kick taker now that James Constable missed his last one, confirmed: “I’m the one on penalties (in a game).

“We’ve all been practising, because If it comes to that we all want to be ready and all want to be confident.

“We’ve not had loads of players shying off them . . . plenty have said they’re prepared to take them.

“We just started off picking areas, without Ryan Clarke or Billy Turley in the goal, and banging them in there, and no-one was missing any.

“I think it’s important. You don’t want to be stepping up not knowing where it’s going to go.

“It’s mainly cofidence, getting up to the ball and knowing where you’re going to hit it.

“And if you do put it where you want to, and the keeper makes a decent save, you’ve got to just hold your hands up.

“But you’ve got to make sure, if he’s going to save it, that it’s a good save.”