Gillingham found themselves three goals down inside 19 minutes against Oxford United and there was no way back as they were thrashed at home.

The Gills ended the afternoon on the end of a hiding by the promotion chasing visitors, conceding four penalties in the defeat. Danny Lloyd and Robbie McKenzie scored for Gillingham but they just couldn’t keep the ball out at the other end.

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Gillingham had targeted home success from a trio of matches at Priestfield but this game followed a drab goalless draw with Shrewsbury in midweek. Fellow strugglers Crewe head to Kent on Tuesday but whatever the outcome of that match many fans have already written this floundering team off.

The home fans needed something to cheer and this certainly wasn’t it.

Those protesting outside the ground had strung “Scally Out” banners on Hoath Way and Blue Bell Hill on Saturday morning and many fans in the Rainham End were also making their feelings known as this performance went from bad to embarrassing.

Striker Charlie Kelman fired a second-minute chance at the visiting keeper but that early enterprise soon dried up as Oxford began to pass them apart.

Billy Bodin put Oxford ahead with eight minutes gone. Stuart O’Keefe lost possession and while half the team stood watching, Marcus McGuane ran quick-footed towards the Gills half, offloaded to Mark Sykes and he found Bodin who took one great first touch before cooly slotting home.

It got worse very quickly. Olly Lee upended Matty Taylor in the box and Cameron Brannagan sent Gills keeper Pontus Dahlberg the wrong way from the penalty spot.

A third goal came in the 19th minute. Bodin whipped in a free-kick and although Taylor had plenty of bodies around him, nobody in a Gills shirt took responsibility, allowing the Oxford man a simple header to make it 3-0.

Caretaker boss Steve Lovell switched formation, putting Mutstapha Carayol and Danny Lloyd out on the wings as he abandoned the diamond set-up. The Gills got on the ball more but Oxford ended the half in control, knocking the ball around the back as they waited for the half-time whistle.

Gillingham needed something to happen quickly if they had any chance of a fightback in the second half but goalkeeper Dahlberg ended any hope.

Oxford went 4-0 up on 48 minutes when Brannagan scored his second from the spot, having been dragged down by the Gills keeper who had lost possession to the Oxford man.

Brannagan conceded his third from the spot with 55 minutes gone when Jack Tucker was penalised for a foul on Sam Long.

With just over an hour gone Lloyd netted after racing onto a ball over the top and holding off his marker before finding the goal.

The same player forced the keeper into a couple of saves as the Gills finally showed some fight, albeit too late.

Gillingham’s late response was halted with yet another penalty, this time as Dan Phillips was penalised for handball and once again the Gills keeper Dahlberg couldn’t get near Brannagan’s spot kick. The Oxford player was only on penalties after team-mate Taylor had missed in a previous game.

There was still time for more goals. McKenzie nodded in a goal for the Gills with five minutes left but Oxford hit back with a seventh when a low cross from the left was met by substitute Anthony Forde, sliding in to inflict further pain on the hosts.

Gillingham: Dahlberg, Jackson, McKenzie, Ehmer, Tucker, Lee (Phillips 57mins), O’Keefe, Dempsey, Lloyd, Carayol (Sithole 76mins), Kelman. Subs not used: Chapman, Masterson, Lintott, Tutonda, Dickson-Peters.

Oxford: Stevens, Long, McNally, Moore, Seddon, Brannagan, McGuane, Sykes, Bodin, Holland (Williams 60mins), Taylor (Winnall 56mins). Subs not used: Eastwood, Forde, Mousinho, Davis.

Referee: Robert Madley

Attendance: 4,995 (650 away)