HEREFORD United skipper Ben Smith believes the Edgar Street side can compete with teams in League One despite losing their opening two games.

The Bulls, who head to Bristol Rovers today, are back in the English league’s third tier after a 30-year absence.

While they have been disappointed by their opening two defeats against Leyton Orient and Yeovil Town, spirits in the camp remain good.

“Of course it’s disappointing to lose your first two games but we haven’t been outplayed by any stretch of the imagination,” Smith said.

“We have to look at teams like Leyton Orient and Yeovil and use them as role-models. They have established themselves at this level and, going by our first two matches, we know we can match them. We can’t get disheartened.”

With the likes of Leeds and Leicester City, Smith knows the standard in the division raises year after year.

“We have noticed a difference between League One and League Two,” he added. “But there are some massive clubs in this division.

“Only a few years ago, we were playing at Leicester’s ground in the play-offs to get back into the Football League — now we are in the same division.

“They have 20,000 season-ticket holders and, in terms of that, we can’t compete but we only play them twice.”