Eyre says Fleetwood Town will be doing VAR homework ahead of historic Leicester City clash

Fleetwood’s FA Cup third round replay at the King Power last season saw the first-ever goal awarded by VAR after Kelechi Iheanacho netted.

His goal was initially chalked off for offside, but with the power of video replay he was found to be onside and that goal in Leicester’s 2-0 win was awarded.

Town again have VAR in their first-eversecond round League Cup clash away to the Premier League side.

The VAR trial continues to be overseen by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) with support from stakeholders across the professional game.

Fans in the stadium will be kept abreast of in-game developments with the same notification process for spectators as was used in the Community Shield as the video officials, based remotely at Stockley Park, London, assist the referee in ONLY four match-changing situations: goals, penalty/no penalty decisions, direct red cards shown or not shown (second yellow cards cannot be reviewed) and mistaken identity.

The officials in charge will be referee Lee Mason and VAR man Jon Moss.

Town first-team coach Steve Eyre is yet to be convinced by the pilot but says Joey Barton and his team are prepared for the new technology as their League One side prepare to test themselves against the former English champions.

Eyre said: “I’m not sure yet, I have not been involved in a game with it, so I’ve no feelings for it.

“I saw it on the telly and thought it was a bit of a farce. The Tottenham-Rochdale game at Wembley was farcical but I think it will improve, like most things.

“Our manager leaves no stone unturned. We have watched Leicester U23s, if they put that type of team out, and we’ve watched Leicester’s first team and seen their style of play.

“We will also study the VAR system at the hotel on Monday. It is just so there are no grey areas.

“Our manager is so precise in detail and gets it across so well that it is a pleasure to listen to.

“He will be working alongside some officials who will explain it (VAR) to us. Hopefully it only affects us in our favour.”

Ex-Fleetwood Town man Jamie Vardy will not be available to face his old club, suspension ruling the forward out.

And Eyre is disappointed that they will not get to test themselves against the England striker as he says that one day Town want to be playing clubs like Leicester week in, week out.

He said: “We wanted him to play – one of the best strikers in the Premier League, an England international.

“He developed superbly well at this football club and we wanted him to play. We want to play the best of the best because that is where we want to be.

“Eventually we want to be playing clubs like Leicester City every season in the Premier League.

“We want to pit ourselves against the best and we hope they are at full-strength.

“Realistically we can only take this competition round by round. Leicester clubs could think about winning this competition. We are just talking about getting through to the next round and we will take them on.

“It is a bit difficult to prepare for because we are not sure what team they will choose.

“They think they can win the competition and it will be a great tie.”