OXFORD United boss Darren Patterson last night described his team's FA Cup pairing with Southend United as "an excellent draw".

The U's will be at home to the League One side in the second round of the competition on the weekend of December 1-2 after their 3-1 win over Northwich on Saturday.

Oxford was the first name pulled out of the hat by former Nottingham Forest midfielder Steve Hodge in yesterday's televised draw, continuing the change of fortune the club is now experiencing after going nearly five years without getting a home tie.

Patterson said: "It's an excellent draw, the most we could have hoped for.

"I know quite a bit about Southend, I've watched them twice already this season, and they're a good side, especially going forward.

"Obviously they were relegated from the Championship at the end of the last season but they're one of the favourites to go up, and are doing well."

The Shrimpers are fifth in League One. They reached the FA Cup second round by winning 2-1 at home to Rochdale at the weekend, at the same time as Oxford were winning Patterson's first match in charge thanks to goals from Alex Jeannin, Yemi Odubade and Eddie Anaclet.

The Essex outfit are around 50 places higher up the football ladder than the U's, but Patterson hasn't written off his team's chances by any means.

"Everything's possible on the day," he said. "I'm a firm believer that anybody can beat anybody 50 places higher in the Cup on their day, and we've seen it happen many times."

Ex-U's striker Lee Bradbury is no longer at Southend, having moved to Bournemouth.

But the tie is a great one for United midfielder Carl Pettefer, who used to be at Roots Hall.

"Yes, it's terrific for him, and quite apt after his outstanding performance on Saturday. Hopefully he can help us plot the downfall of his old club."

Financially, the tie is a big boost for Oxford, who will hope to attract a 6,000-plus gate to the match.

"Fans love a good FA Cup tie and they'll bring a few, that's for sure," Patterson said. "We'd like to get a few more along, but we need to help increase the gate with our perform- ances."

Meanwhile, Patterson said that he was delighted his team put a smile back on people's faces with Saturday's win.

It was the first time this season that United had scored three times in a game and won, and although their struggling opponents had lost all their away league games this campaign, the U's produced the kind of second-half performance their fans have been waiting a long time for.

Patterson said: "Because at home we've lost leads before, we get a bit nervy, but the second goal perked the players up.

"We challenged the players at half-time - can this be the one that we keep a lead, score more goals and grow from it - and learn how to win a football match, because it's massively important to us that we send our home fans away happy."

Patterson didn't want to single any individual out but agreed that midfielder Pettefer had been very influential.

"Carl was outstanding," he said. "He set the tone from the first whistle.

"That's the standard we need to set every week now.

"That amount of commitment and passion is what we should give regardless.

"You'll always get bad passes and wrong decision-making, but that is the bare minimum, in terms of effort, that I am going to want.

"If we give that, with the quality we've got, and add some additions, we've got a good chance of moving up the league.

"We're not kidding ourselves, we're nowhere near the finished article - we're not going to get carried away with it - but I'm very pleased for them, the players - they showed some real heart."