SOMERSET all-rounder Ian Blackwell pulled no punches as his side's Championship title bid hit the buffers against Lancashire at Taunton.

In a must-win game as far as their title hopes are concerned, Somerset look certain to lose this morning as the visitors – 122-0 overnight – need just 60 more runs for victory with all 10 second innings wickets still standing.

Blackwell summed up a day in which Somerset lost eight wickets for 161 runs when he said: "It was disastrous. We needed a massive performance and we were found wanting again, and I don't think it is for the first time this season that we have failed in the batting department.

"We just folded, and it is disappointing becuase we have got a lot of character in this team. It is almost as if we had a trophy to grasp and the pressure was too much for us."

Blackwell top-scored with 55 but knows he should have gone on further.

"When I was batting out there I was thinking 'I am only going to get myself out', because it was tough to bowl on," he said.

"They just created pressure and it has been shown in the past that pressure creates wickets, and we threw away probably half the team's wickets. You can't afford to do that, not in Division One cricket.

"Their openers had their share of luck, but all credit to them. They have obviously climbed most of the mountain in the second innings."

However, Blackwell still believes Somerset have justified their pre-season optimism. He added: "To get promoted convincingly last year and then say we were trying to win Division One, a lot of people thought was ludicrous.

"But halfway through the year we got ourselves in a great position.

"We were fortunate with the weather in some games, but that is the English summer. We could end up finishing fourth, which is probably going to feel like a big kick in the teeth."

Meanwhile, reserve wicketkeeper Carl Gazzard yesterday signed a new one-year contract with Somerset.

The Cornishman has played just twice because of the good form of Craig Kieswetter this year.