Alex Gidman is adamant Gloucestershire can still clinch promotion from the LV County Championship Second Division.

A depressing sequence of five defeats in seven games over the past two months has seen the county lose vital ground on leaders Kent and the chasing pack.

But victory over Surrey at Bristol today will propel Gloucestershire CCC back into the reckoning with two matches to play. And Gidman believes it would be foolish to write off him and his team-mates.

Surrey go into the fourth and final day on 136-3, requiring a further 204 runs to avoid an innings defeat.

With the weather set fair and maximum batting and bowling bonus points already in the bank, Gloucestershire sense an opportunity to put themselves firmly back into contention for a top-two finish.

In buoyant mood after posting a career-best score of 176 in a first-innings total of 523-7 declared, Gidman said: "Promotion is something that is there for us if we win this game.

"We've all been bitterly disappointed with some of our inconsistencies and some of the games we've lost, but we're confident we can produce big performances when we need them.

"We still have a lot to do in this match. It will be hard day for us on the final day and we cannot expect Surrey to roll over like they did in their first innings.

"But we're in a good position and, if we can get an early wicket or two and put pressure on their middle order, there's no reason why we cannot mop it up sometime in the afternoon. I'm optimistic, for sure."

He added: "Given the way our season has gone, we know we're more than capable of winning the last three games and putting ourselves in the frame for promotion.

"We're either very good or very poor and we're just as likely to win a few games on the bounce as we are to lose a few.

"After failing to win a single game last season, I would have taken this position had you offered it to me. I'll settle for us going into the final round of games and still be in with a chance of making the First Division."

Although Gidman reached an important personal milestone in setting a career-best score for the second time this season, he derived more pleasure from the team's performance.

He explained: "Obviously, I'm delighted on a personal note, because you always set out to beat your CB at the start of every season. To do it twice in such a short space of time is very satisfying.

"But I'm more pleased with the way the team played as a whole. We played a very solid game to build a commanding lead and, to take three wickets in the final session, was a pretty good return.

"Surrey didn't bowl as well as they could have at times and that made it easier for us. But I'm not complaining and you cannot take anything away from us. I'm pleased with the number of runs we scored."