IT is not often you hear Michael Appleton talk about making mistakes.

Given the success Oxford United had under the head coach last season, there are not many to discuss, but one area he is looking to improve on this time is the opening day.

Excitement gave way to anti-climax 12 months ago, when, after a feverish build-up, unfancied Crawley Town came to the Kassam Stadium and earned a 1-1 draw.

United were poor on the day and Appleton is determined to avoid falling into the same trap when Chesterfield turn up for the start of the Sky Bet League One campaign tomorrow.

“It’s very much the same, but I’m a hell of a lot more relaxed,” he said.

“I think we certainly made a big error going into the first game last year.

“I thought we were all over-hyped and too aggressive on the day, which resulted in a bang average performance.

“We came away from the game with a point, but I felt it could have been so different.

“We were all so pumped up for the game we lost a bit of composure on the day.

“We just have to make sure we don’t over-build it.

“It’s one of 46 games.”

All clubs go into the new season with a degree of uncertainty, given the amount of turnover in squads during the summer.

As a promoted side it is even harder to gauge where expectations should be set.

United were a cut above League Two for much of last season and have added quality players.

On the other hand, key assets in Kemar Roofe and Callum O’Dowda have departed, to Leeds United and Bristol City respectively, and there are half a dozen clubs in the division who will be operating in a league of their own financially.

Appleton thinks United’s displays last season, particularly in cup competitions, mean they are unlikely to slip under the radar.

But equally he does not expect the squad to suffer an inferiority complex going up against some of the bigger names in League One.

He said: “What we need to be aware of is because of how well we did last year, I’d be amazed if 80 per cent of the teams don’t look to press us really high.

“That was the one time last season when we struggled early on in games, we didn’t adapt to it quick enough.

“It doesn’t matter so much about the size of your club, it’s about making sure you are ‘at it’ in every game.

“Sides have proven in previous seasons in League One they are more than capable of competing with the big boys.

“You’ve only got to see what happened to Burton, they got off to a good start with a lot of momentum behind them and it took them through the campaign.”