Burnell was named skipper earlier this month, replacing Adam Murray

Oxford United captain Joe Burnell insists "there is no rift" between the players and manager Darren Patterson after United's 2-1 defeat by Crawley.

The result leaves the U's just out of the Blue Square Premier relegation zone on goal difference.

Midfielder Burnell, 27, told BBC Oxford: "We are heaping the pressure on ourselves, but there is no rift.

"We have a great bunch of lads - the most honest I have played with. We now to be more nasty."