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Matt Green celebrates his winning goal against Stevenage

Darren Patterson says he has already opened discussions with striker Matt Green about staying at Oxford United next season.

The U's boss revealed after yesterday's impressive 2-1 win over promotion-chasing Stevenage - in which Green hit a brilliant winner - that talks have begun. But he knows he faces strong competition for the 21-year-old's signature.

The on-loan Cardiff City striker and midfielder Adam Murray were both outstanding as the U's made it three wins on the spin for the first time since April 2007.

This duo look a class above Conference level.

Patterson said: "We're very lucky to have Adam. He's a very good footballer.

"With Greeny we'll have to wait and see about next season.

"I've already had a preliminary chat with the boy, we'll see where we're at. I know we're going to be up against a lot of competition, but I was up against a lot of competition to get him in the first place."

There had been doubts about whether he would be able to play twice in three days following knee problems which mean he doesn't train in the early part of each week, but in the end, he lasted the full 90 minutes, and looked sharp until the very end.

Patterson admitted, though, that his coaching team had to apply "Spanish Inquisition" tactics to get the truth from Green on whether he was fit enough to play again, so soon after Halifax.

"We had him in, in front of the staff - there was four of us grilling him, it was like a lie-detector test, it was ridiculous!" Patterson smiled.

"He can tell you 'porkies' because he's so desperate to play.

"He's done that a couple of times and let himself down, but he was adamant that he felt great, and that was testament to our physio because Matt says that's the best he's felt with it for two or three years.

"If we can keep the boy fit, and he hasn't been training till Thursday, you can see what a handful he can be."

United have responded magnificently to the big disappointment in the previous home game against Burton by rolling up their sleeves, cutting out the mistakes at the back, and showing a real attacking threat for probably the first time this season.

And their three successive victories, at Stafford, at Halifax, and now against Peter Taylor's Stevenage, have all been convincing ones.

"I think my players, my staff and myself have shown a lot of character since the Burton game," said United's manager. "The response was exactly what we needed, and especially our fantastic fans. We need to build on that now.

"We controlled the game from start to finish and it would have been a travesty had we not won. "Stevenage equalised with a lucky deflection. That happens and those things seem to go against you. But what we did show was the character - and the goals.

"Greeny was a threat all day, him and Justin (Richards). And Macca (Craig McAllister) when he came on. That makes a big difference. It was a fantastic finish."

8:00am Tuesday 25th March 2008

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