Q:

PHP exception: SQLSTATE[42000]: Syntax error or access violation: 1064

I have a php pdo script  where I want to select the record (from a table in a MySQL database) with the highest number in "field5".  I also have a few other constrictions, see below:
 $stmt=$db->query("SELECT `field1`,`field2` FROM ".$tablename."  WHERE
 `field3`!=".$variable1."  AND `field3`!=".$variable2."  AND
 `field4`='xx' AND `field5`<".$variable3."  ORDER BY DESC `field5` LIMIT
 1");

I have pretty much all the code inside a try-statement, and in the catch statement I use 
var_dump($ex->getMessage());

to get the exception message from the exception $ex. 
Now, when I execute the code I get the following exception message:

'SQLSTATE[42000]: Syntax error or access violation: 1064 You have an
  error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your
  MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near 'DESC field5
  LIMIT 1' at line 3' (length=232)

I'd be grateful for any advice on what might be wrong! 

A:

Change
ORDER BY DESC field5

into
ORDER BY field5 DESC

