BURY boss David Flitcroft slammed his players’ “lack of killer instinct” at Oxford on Saturday as the home side came from behind to claim a 90th-minute winner.

The Shakers looked set to end a five-match winless streak and record their first away victory in three months when Danny Mayor fired them ahead in the 63rd minute.

But two mistakes from Bury’s most senior players saw the match turned on its head.

Vice-captain Craig Jones turned a Danny Hylton cross into his own net on 69 minutes before a misplaced pass from captain Jim McNulty allowed Oxford to launch a late counter-attack, which Tyrone Barnett finished off with a back-post header.

“You’ve got to have that killer instinct to see a game out” said Flitcroft. “Even at 1-1 we have not respected the point as a group.

“We have not been beaten by an Oxford team that have carved us apart and deserved to win this football match.

“We deserved to be 1-0 in front from the second half performance, but they weren’t made to earn the result. Oxford have had two goals gifted to them and that is disappointing.”

Flitcroft reinstated loan signings Adam El-Abd and Rob Milsom after they were unavailable for selection for the previous weekend’s FA Cup draw at home to Luton.

El-Abd returned to the heart of the defence in place of Pablo Mills, who has been struggling with a groin strain, while Milsom was brought in to add bite in the heart of midfield.

But Flitcroft abandoned a new-look 5-3-2 formation midway through the opening half as Bury struggled to gain a foothold in the game.

“We weren’t at the races at all, the first half really concerned me,” said the Shakers manager.

“We couldn’t really pass it with any purpose and the system I chose first half just didn’t really work so I changed to a back four.”

Shwan Jalal, who started in place of Rob Lainton after his error gifted Luton a goal in the previous weekend’s FA Cup tie, made a good early stop to deny Wes Burns before rushing out to charge down a Hylton break into the box.

Bury did not manage a serious effort on goal until the 45th minute, when Andrew Tutte clipped the bar with a 25-yard free kick.

The visitors were bolstered by the half-time introduction of Ryan Lowe and looked far more threatening after the break.

Lowe put a first time shot just wide in the 48th minute before setting up Hallam Hope with a clever centre that led to the opening goal.

Oxford stopper Ryan Clarke did well to get a hand to Hope’s shot, but the rebound eventually fell to Mayor, who calmly picked his spot to claim his fourth goal of the campaign.

The goal was followed by Bury’s best spell as Lowe headed narrowly wide and Tutte again struck the woodwork with a thunderous 30-yard shot.

But just as Flitcroft’s side were getting on top, former Shakers striker Hylton went past the labouring Milsom, who was struggling with a dead leg, and took the ball to the byline before pulling it back across the six-yard box.

Jones had little option but to try to cut it out with Barnett ready to pounce, but there was only going to be one outcome as he raced towards goal just a couple of yards out.

Rather than shutting up shop, Flitcroft’s side continued to search for a winner, but their adventure backfired when Oxford broke following a late Chris Hussey corner.

A risky pass back to Hussey from last man McNulty was intercepted and when the ball was returned over the Bury captain’s head he was unable to keep pace with Burns, who crossed for the unmarked Barnett to head home.

“Certainly the second half we created some good chances and got a well-deserved goal. But once the ball was given away for the second goal they have just carved us open and Barnett was left on his own in the box,” said Flitcroft.

“There was not the resolve to defend the two goals.

“We have not locked the pitch down and made sure we were solid and there was no space in behind us.

“To not have the savvy to see the game out – it should have been a 1-0 every day of the week, but we have given them two good opportunities to score against us.

“I have got to put that right because we are in control of that. As a manager I am in control of what happens to those players out there and today, at key moments, they have just not been able to make the right decision.”

The late turnaround saw Bury fall to their fifth defeat in the last six matches and still in search of a first victory on their travels since they won 3-0 at Carlisle on September 13.

And while they remain ninth in the League Two table, Flitcroft's side lost further ground on their promotion rivals, falling four points adrift of the play-off places and seven off the top three.

OXFORD UNITED: Clarke; Riley, Mullins, Wright, Holmes-Dennis; Rose, Whing; Burns, Collins (Potter 83), Hylton; Barnett.

Not used: Meades, O'Dowda, Howard, Dunkley, Campbell, Crocombe.

BURY: Jalal 6; Cameron 6, El-Abd 7, McNulty 5; Jones 6, Tutte 7, Soares 5, Milsom 5 (Hussey 6 75), Mayor 7; Rose 5 (Lowe 6 46), Hope 6 (Adams 6 71).

Not sued: Etuhu, Nardiello, Lainton, Mills.

Goals: Oxford United 2 (Jones og 69, Barnett 90) Bury 1 (Mayor 63).

Yellow cards: Oxford United – Holmes-Dennis 59. Bury – Soares 19, Jones 61.

Referee: Stephen Martin.

Attendance: 6,912 (215 visiting).

Star man: Adam El-Abd – The on-loan Bristol City centre-back’s performance was far from perfect, but his willingness to put his body on the line to defend the Bury goal could be crucial in the games to come. It is likely that the Shakers will need more of his grit and determination if they are to turn around their current slump in form and results. But the Egyptian’s desire to chase down the ball saw him break ranks at times and he will need more work with his defensive unit to iron out the organisation of the back three before they resume league action at home to York on Saturday.