Chris Wilder has challenged his Oxford United players to prove the critics wrong and turn their season around.

Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at home to Gillingham, a team winless on their travels for more than 18 months, means the U’s are just one point off the League Two relegation zone.

It was the manner of the loss, in which United produced a dismal first-half performance, that left many fans worried.

United were booed off at half and full-time on Saturday, but Wilder remains confident his side can get out of their dreadful run, which has seen them lose their last five matches.

“We have to prove people wrong,” he said defiantly.

“There will be bullets flying around, and a lot of stick directed at me and the players, but we have to stand up and turn it around.

“The only way to do that is stick together and remain a tight-knit unit who will work harder than ever.

“I know that I have some very good footballers here, but the players have to show their character now.

“We have to start winning football matches – I’m looking for my players to stand up and be counted.”

The only goal of the game came five minutes before half-time when captain Jake Wright underhit a backpass to keeper Ryan Clarke and Gillingham striker Cory McDonald nipped in to score.

McDonald and strike partner Adebayo Akinfenwa caused Wright and on-loan centre back Ben Futcher all kinds of problems in the opening 45 minutes, and in truth, United were fortunate to be just one goal down at the break.

The U’s were much better in the second half, sparked by the introduction of James Constable, but could not find an equaliser.

“Gillingham haven’t won away for getting on for two years, but their players gave their manager everything,” Wilder said.

“Their front two were a real handful. They were better than us first half, I can’t deny that.

“But we were better than them in the second half, worked hard, but yet again in the final third our quality was missing.

“People were shouting that it was a shambles and garbage...I don’t think it was garbage.

“Confidence isn’t great and you can see that. We’re in a little rut, but one game, one win and it all changes.

“We have to all believe in what we are doing and turn it around – which I know we will.”