FINALLY, it's back - the new season of competitive football.

Although our League Two campaign does not kick off until this Saturday, we had the delights of the EFL Cup against Reading.

After last season's run to the quarter-finals of the competition, I’m sure most U’s fans were hoping for an upset. Alas it was not to be and we ended up losing 3-1.

On paper it seems negative, but after watching the game and delving past the scoreline, there are a lot of reasons to be positive.

During the first half anyone looking in from the outside would have been hard pressed to work out who was the Championship side.

We looked well drilled and some of the attacking play was very impressing and pleasing on the eye.

We had the better chances and combined well as a team for our goal and a well-deserved lead.

It was unfortunate that Reading were able to get one back just before the break and I’ll wager that there were a few choice words in the home dressing room at half-time.

In the second half Reading came out much stronger and the game got away from us.

I think 2-1 would have been better reflection on the game overall.

So where does that leave the U’s on the eve of a new fight for promotion?

Personally I think we have recruited well, both in terms of players and staff.

The arrival of Hayden Mullins from Watford is proof that the club must be doing something right and the way Steve Ball is viewed by his peers, if Mullins is willing to drop from the Premier League - I know Watford got relegated last term, but he was still working at that level - to League Two as an assistant.

Plus we have also finally got a striker in, with Martel Taylor-Crossdale arriving on a season's long loan from Fulham, hopefully completing the final piece of the attacking puzzle to complement the forwards we already have.

Now for the worst part of any new season, the predictions.

I think we will actually go one better than last year, and win promotion this time out.

Pre-season has been tough, but with only a short few weeks to get the games in, we have done the right thing and played difficult teams which have been a test, in order to really get the lads working.

Yes the results did not go our way, but you could see the system taking shape throughout.

Now we have to cross the t’s and dot the i’s this week to really hit the ground running and lay down the marker for the season.

With Harry Pell as captain, passion and guts is a given, and as long as the results follow we can be sure of a good time once we are allowed back in to the grounds, which all being well could be as early as next month.

Let's get behind the lads and here's to a promotion-winning season. Up the U’s.