Stevens: I'll use Brentford play-off final experience with Oxford at Wembley | OneFootball

Brentford defender Fin Stevens has said he will use the experience of being in the Bees squad that won promotion at Wembley Stadium in 2020/21 when he returns to the capital as an Oxford United player in the League One play-off final this Saturday.

Stevens was just 18 years old when the west Londoners won 2-0 under the arch three years ago, and he was an unused substitute as Thomas Frank's side secured their spot in the Premier League.

Now on loan at Oxford, where he has made 36 league appearances this term, the right-back is hoping for similar success when the U's take on Bolton Wanderers in a 4.15pm kick-off on Saturday.

Asked about his memories of the Championship play-off final in 2021, Stevens recalled: “It's a bit different now because I was only a kid then and I didn't really play much throughout that season, so I was more just with the team rather than being too involved.

“But, when you're sort of a big part of it, it's different and you can properly feel the nerves and the excitement.

“But, yeah, I've been to Wembley and I've seen what it's all about, so I can definitely take that experience and, having been there before, I'll try and settle everyone down, tell them all to try and relax and just play our normal game.”

Stevens has had a great campaign, starting 30 games, including both play-off semi-finals against Peterborough United as the U's won 2-1 on aggregate.

And the full-back has shown his solidity throughout the season, highlighted by his impressive defensive statistics, which see him first for crosses blocked (21), second for interceptions (47) and third for tackles (61) in the Oxford squad.

Stevens stated: “It's been bang on, to be fair. We've been in and around the top six the whole season, so we've been trying to keep up there.

“There was a change of gaffer so we had to get used to him but, once we did and once we saw what he was all about, we kicked on again, which was a good time because it was towards the end of the season and it helped us get into the play-offs in the end.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time here - as a footballer, you want to play. I've been on the bench for Brentford in the Premier League which is great but, for me, personally, I just want to play.

“So for me to come here, play, help the team, and to get some minutes and experience, it’s exactly what I needed.”

He added: “We play with a 4-3-3 sort of shape and he wants us full-backs to back up the wingers.

“We used to sort of play with two no.6s and one no.10, but we switched it and we've now gone with one 6 and two 10s to try and get more attackers on the pitch and get other teams on the break.

“So, for me and the back four, there's more 1v1 duels and things like that, but I think I've dealt with them.

“And I do like a tackle so, if it’s there to be won, stick them in the air!"

Oxford will face Bolton in the final, where he will come up against Brentford team-mate Paris Maghoma, who has also been in sensational form in the third tier this campaign, having joined Wanderers on a season-long loan.

The midfielder has eight goals and four assists in the league this campaign, and he has loved playing under Ian Evatt for the Trotters.

He told Sky Sports earlier this season: "I feel like I'm getting back to who I was as a youngster: being involved in goals, trying to create things, score, assist, whatever I can do. It's been fun.

"The gaffer's given me license to express myself, he's shown a lot of faith in me, and all I can be is grateful for that.

"In training, we always say to express ourselves, to try things when we go into games - if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out."

The two Bees players will go head-to-head in a bid to win promotion to the Championship, before their loans expire and they head back to Brentford this summer.

But have there been any conversations between the pair leading up to this game?

Stevens smiled: “Nah, I’ll leave that, I’ll just see him on the day. You don’t want to start anything there!”