Patto sounds battle cry

7:13pm Friday 8th August 2008

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Darren Patterson says there can be no hiding place when Oxford United travel to Barrow for tonight's Blue Square Premier opener.

The U's will be without striker Jamie Guy, who will miss the first three weeks of the season with the hamstring injury, Phil Trainer (broken foot) and first-choice keeper Billy Turley (shoulder).

But United's boss is refusing to use their absences as an excuse for not putting on a top performance at the Holker Street Stadium.

"Pre-season has gone ever so well, but I admit that with those three players gone it has taken the edge of it," said Patterson.

"We should have enough to go up there and get a good result. We just have to deal with it. We lost Jamie to injury after eight minutes against Portsmouth and we still managed to deal with them."

Patterson looks likely to push Yemi Odubade up front alongside debutant James Constable, with fellow new boy Lewis Haldane playing on the wing.

Chris Carruthers, another new recruit, is set to make his debut at left back.

Oxford skipper Adam Murray, who missed the Portsmouth game with an ankle injury and 'flu, returns.

He will link up alongside another new signing, Joe Burnell, in midfield.

The keeper's jersey will be worn by either former Preston and Derby stopper Ben Hinchliffe or Jake Cole, who they have signed on loan from Championship side QPR.

Former Macclesfield duo, striker Michael Husbands and winger Levi Reid, are likely to be on the bench.

Patterson said the squad had travelled up the day before to ensure they were in the best possible condition for the game.

They trained at local non-league club Kendal Town yesterday.

He added: "You have to be prepared properly to give the players the best opportunity of performing to the best of their ability.

"I am looking forward to the game. I know we haven't got the best of records on Setanta (the U's have never won).

"It won't be easy - that was shown by some of our results against the so-called lesser teams last season.

"We shall take the positives out of pre-season. The playing conditions will be good.

"If we play our game we can get a good result, but I'm under no illusions about the task we will face up there.

"It's going to be a very tough game."

Patterson, whose side finished last season with a terrific run of five straight wins, was keeping his selection a closely-guarded secret.

"I know what the team is," he said. "Lewis Haldane has played well for the whole of pre-season, but there are others who have done the same.

"Yemi (Odubade) has also looked sharp. We have got people that can come in, but, as I have said before, my options are limited.

"The squad numbers are low. We have blooded some of the kids and some will be involved with the team while others will be sent out to other clubs to get experience.

"But to rely on the kids for the whole season is wrong for us in terms of progression."

The game is expected to pull in a crowd in excess of 3,000.

The Cumbrians will be without Lee Woodyatt, who suffered a broken leg in a pre-season friendly at Kendal.

Ashley Winn is suspended, while last season's top scorer, Nick Rogan, is out with a groin injury.

Barrow are set to parade three new signing - former Manchester City youngster Carlos Logan, who joined on Wednesday, Mike Pearson, from Oldham, and Lee Hunt, from Welsh side Rhyl.

Joint player-managers Darren Sheridan and Dave Bayliss, and new keeper Aaran Taylor, are likely to be on the bench in what is close to the team which won promotion from Conference North last season.

Sheridan, whose side beat League Two Accrington on Saturday 2-1, said: "If we show the same application we showed against Accrington, then we are capable of beating Oxford."

Barrow: from Deasy, Pearson, Jones, McNulty, Elderton, Henney, Bond, Boyd, Logan, Brown, Hunt, Walker, Sheridan, Bayliss, Thompson, A Taylor.

Oxford Utd: from Hinchliffe, Cole, Foster, Willmott, Quinn, Carruthers, Murray, Burnell, Hutchinson, Haldane, Odubade, Constable, Husbands, Reid, Davies, Fisher, Deering, Clarke, M Taylor.