Oxford United manager Ian Atkins believes his current squad are too tough mentally to fall away from the automatic promotion places as they did a year ago.

The U's tailed off last season following their famous FA Cup third-round tie at Arsenal, slipping down the table and eventually missing out on even a play-off place after climbing to third at the turn of the year.

Atkins said: "This year, we're a lot more settled and we're stronger, I believe, with players like Julian Alsop and Paul Wanless.

"Also, we've got our strikers to come back, with Lee Steele and Mark Rawle to come in when they get fit, and Andy Scott back in training after his broken leg.

"We know it's going to be tough, but this is an honest and hard-working group of players. Wherever we finish will be where we deserve to finish. It will be our rightful position."

Atkins was pleased with the work-out his first-team players got in a practice friendly at Derby on Saturday.

The first division side won 1-0 with a goal just before the end of the first of the three 30-minute periods, but both Rawle and Steele hit the woodwork for Oxford.

Danny Brown was given 90 minutes in midfield and Jon Ashton returned in defence.

Up front, leading scorer Steve Basham was rested, but Rawle played 90 minutes while loan signing Richie Foran had 80 minutes.

"It was a good work-out for us," Atkins said.

"Some of the players couldn't understand why they were playing a game like this instead of having a weekend off, when there was no league game, but I'm trying to get across to them the benefit of the habit of playing every Saturday."

Derby played their full first team.

Paul McCarthy needed stitches under his chin after getting a kick in the head.

United were playing another friendly, against Conference leaders promotion challengers Hereford United at the Kassam Stadium today.

Oxford's promotion rivals had a mixed weekend. Huddersfield's 2-0 win at York yesterday lifted them three places to fifth in Division 3, and Hull extended their lead at the top with a 2-0 triumph at Cheltenham.

But, following on from Doncaster's surprise home defeat by Lincoln on Friday night, Yeovil also suffered a shock reverse in front of their own fans, going down 2-1 to the improving Leyton Orient.

Mansfield's single goal victory over Southend means they will go above United into third place if they win at Scunthorpe tomorrow.