Smith has had two spells in charge at Oxford

Oxford United director Jim Smith has praised the work of the club's manager Darren Patterson after a largely impressive pre-season campaign.

The U's have put in some encouraging displays and Smith, who was manager before Patterson, told BBC Oxford that he likes what he has seen so far.

"It does look very promising. We have two front players who will get goals and that is the key to it all.

"If we carry it on we'll be a difficult team to play against."

He added: "The fans are right to have the confidence that we can go up that's for sure."

United kick of their Blue Square Premier campaign at Barrow on 8 August (1945 BST). BBC Oxford have full match commentary on 95.2 FM in Oxfordshire and on bbc.co.uk/oxford.