SOMERSET director of cricket Matt Maynard admits his side looked "resigned to relegation" during their 179-run defeat to Essex yesterday, with their batting effort coming up short once again.

With four games remaining, Somerset are 23 points behind sixth-placed Yorkshire, and Maynard's men will need a marked improvement in the batting department if they are to avoid the drop.

They were bowled out for 164 and 109 in Chelmsford, with none of top order batsmen Marcus Trescothick, Eddie Byrom and Tim Rouse scoring more than 10 runs in either innings.

Maynard said: “The most worrying aspect of the performance was that we did not look like a side fighting for survival in the First Division.

“The players appeared resigned to relegation.

"Their attitude had been first class in the previous two Championship matches, so why it changed I am not sure.

“Craig Overton had an excellent game and James Hildreth batted well on a tricky pitch.

"But overall to get beaten as we did, albeit by a very good side was very disappointing.”

Bottom side Warwickshire are their next opponents (September 5-8), and Maynard will be looking to change up his out-of-sorts batting unit.

None of the current batsmen has reached 500 runs this season, and the highest average among them is well below 30.

Maynard said: “Never before in my career as a player or coach have I been involved with a team in which all the batsmen have struggled for runs.

“I don’t believe the issues are technical. It is more about fear of failure when out in the middle.

“We are playing high-pressure cricket and at the moment, even our more experienced players are not handling it.

“It stems from the top of the order.

"I believe we have had only one 50-partnership for the first wicket in the Championship this season, which is amazing.

“Even when Dean Elgar was here and playing well, we always seemed to lose a wicket early.

"It is the job of the openers to see off the new ball and it hasn’t been happening for us.”

Quotes: Richard Latham (ECB reporters' network)