A DREADFUL backpass by Jake Wright saw Oxford United slip to their fifth straight defeat at the Kassam Stadium today.

But more worryingly, the loss - against a team who had not won away from home for 18 months - leaves the U's just one point and two places off the relegation places.

Wright underhit a backpass to keeper Ryan Clarke five minutes before half-time, and McDonald pounced to round United's keeper and tap into an empty net.

Although they did better after the break, United's first-half display was poor and ultimately proved costly.

Chris Wilder made two changes from the team that lost 2-1 to Rotherham a week ago.

Wright came in, as captain, to the heart of the Oxford defence while Stevie Kinniburgh replace Anthony Tonkin at left back.

That meant top scorer James Constable had to again settle for a place on the bench.

More staggering, however, was that United's line-up saw eight changes from the side that lost to Torquay in their last game at the Kassam Stadium.

Wright's first real involvement on his return from a three-match ban was to be booked for a foul on Cody McDonald.

The Gillingham striker was running menacingly towards the United goal after good link-up play with Adebayo Akinfenwa, and was 30 yards out when Wright clattered into him.

From a great through ball from Kevin Maher, McDonald raced beyond the U's defence, and though Kinnibugh was in chase, it needed a superbly-timed save from Ryan Clarke to stop the visitors from taking the lead.

The visitors, who were on top, were then furious they were not awarded a penalty.

A well-worked corner saw Callum Kennedy take a shot, and when it was blocked, he was caught by Simon Clist in the area trying to get the rebound.

United may have been a touch fortunate.

McDonald was causing the United defence real problems, and when he fed ChriS Whelpdale, Clarke again had to be alert to keep his effort out.

From Gillingham's second corner of the game an unmarked Whelpdale nodded over.

But United's defence had not learned.

From the Gills' third, Charlie Lee found himself in acres of space ten yards out, but headed tamely wide.

The home fans were becoming increasingly frustrated by Oxford's failure to keep the ball.

Too often there was a lack of movement, but more worrying, a lack of quality.

The U's supporters were sparked into life when Ben Futcher's misguided punt forward turned out to cause keeper Alan Julien problems.

Although Steve Maclean reacted quickest, none of his teammates were on hand to turn in his ball across goal.

More good link-up play between Gillingham's front two saw Akinfenwa play in Lee, but he again could not get his effort on target.

Yet again Akinfewa's clever ball played in McDonald, and this time he was half a yard ahead of Kinniburgh bearing down on goal.

But the United left-back produced an outstanding tackle to stop the striker inside the box just as he was about to shoot.

United break for the first time, but Josh Payne delayed his pass to Alfie Potter too long, and Julian easily pushed Potter's effort wide.

From the resulting corner, Payne had a shot at goal when the ball was cleared to him, but his shot went off for a throw-in, about 30 yards from the bye-line.

United then fell behind and left the pitch at half-time to a chorus of boos.

Wilder sent on Constable in place of Payne and the U's started the second period better - Clist having their first shot on target with a free-kick that Julian tipped over.

Constable certainly sparked energy into United.

But after some typically hard work, when he broke clear down the right, his woeful cross went straight behind for a goal kick.

However, Constable then latched onto a loose ball on the left edge of the area and unleashed a powerful shot that flew just wide.

Constable and Maclean combined well for the on-loan Plymouth striker to shot, but Julian was equal to his fine effort.

But at last United started to look like they could salvage something.

Potter's effort was easily saved in the 70th minute as United kept going forward.

Simon Heslop replaced Paul Wotton, while some relief for the U's defence came when Akinfenwa came off for Stefan Payne.

Green replaced Potter, but even with four strikers on the pitch - and Futcher up front in dispatches - United still could not find an equaliser.

Oxford Utd: Clarke, Purkiss, Futcher, Wright, Kinniburgh, Wotton (Heslop 74), J Payne (Constable 46), Clist, Potter (Green 80), Maclean, Craddock. Subs not used: Batt, Hall, Eastwood, Worley.

Gillingham: Julian, Fuller, Sinclair, Lawrence, Kennedy, Whelpdale, Maher (Spiller 84), Lee, Palmer (Jackman 90+2), McDonald, Akinfenwa (S Payne 74). Subs not used: Nutter, King, Inkango, Cronin.

Referee: Scott Mathieson.

Attendance: 7,144.