Michael Appleton has warned his Oxford United high-flyers that success this season is far from guaranteed.

The U's currently occupy a place in the League Two automatic promotion zone after losing just two of their 19 fixtures to date.

A chance to gain a place in the third tier may there for the taking, but Appleton is cautious of some tough tests ahead and admits that he is simply "staying focused" on the task at hand.

"We've got no God-given right to win any game," he told the Oxford Mail, three days on from his side's 1-1 draw at home to strugglers Newport County. "I say it all the time - one of the most difficult things in football is to win games, whatever level you're at.

"But as long as we go into those games thinking the same way then I think we've got that quality in tight games to make the difference. It's difficult sometimes to enjoy it, in the nicest possible sense. You don't get an opportunity to dwell too much on the game that's just happened. It's more about staying focused."

Oxford head north to face Hartlepool United at the weekend, looking to maintain their push for a top-three finish.