VAR has once again been a hot topic of conversation in the Premier League, following the weekend's top-flight games.

The controversial Video Assistant Referee system is not currently deployed in the EFL - but an incident in Colchester United's 1-1 draw at Barrow had U's boss Steve Ball wishing that it was.

Colchester appealed for a penalty with 13 minutes remaining at the Progression Solicitors Stadium when substitute Luke Norris appeared to be pulled back by a Bluebirds defender in the penalty area, following a corner.

Norris and his team-mates were adamant it should have been a spot-kick but referee Sam Barrott waved away their claims, leaving Ball disappointed.

Ball said: “It wasn’t actually a great corner from Cohen (Bramall) because it was a bit too high and floaty.

“Miles Welch-Hayes got up really well, it’s been knocked down on the six-yard box and as Nos (Luke Norris) swings, he’s been pulled back.

“It’s quite a cute pull by the guy and with VAR about, it would have been nice to have had that, because it would definitely have been given but you win some, you lose some."

Given the current controversial ruling surrounding handball, Colchester also had a shout for another penalty late on.

Miles Welch-Hayes looked almost certain to head home Bramall's corner at the far post, only for the ball to hit a Barrow defender on the shoulder and sail away for another set-piece.

“Miles has said that it hit the guy’s shoulder," said Ball.

“It was a great delivery from Cohen (Bramall) – it was a much flatter delivery with more zest on it.

“It’s going in and it’s hit the guy’s shoulder.

“You’d have to say it was good defending; the ref missed it and gave the goal-kick but there you go."

Meanwhile, boss Ball has revealed his players had been placing emphasis on their long-range shooting in training, prior to their draw at Barrow.

Noah Chilvers gave the U's a first-half lead with a fine left-foot strike before it was cancelled out by Mike Jones with an equally spectacular goal, after the break.

Ball added: “I brought it up with the players after the game about us maybe choosing the wrong option to shoot – but Noah didn’t!

“Cohen (Bramall) has had about four or five free-kicks which I fancied him from.

“It’s important that we add goals from midfield and that 25 to 30-yard area is key.

“We’ve been doing quite a bit of that in training, so it’s nice to see one of them come off.

“The way Barrow play, it’s a tight pitch and it’s obviously a long journey for teams – that all comes into it.

“They’ve got a really nice balance, in that they can go into the big man or they can play as well.

“They’ve got the boy (Mike) Jones who got the goal and (Lewis) Hardcastle.

“They won a league last year and there’s not a huge gulf between the League and the Conference.

“I think they will comfortably be top half this year, Barrow."