LANCASHIRE will be battling to keep their season alive at Blackpool on Wednesday after Saturday's dismal Championship defeat by Somerset at Old Trafford.

After slumping to 126 all out in their second innings, and a comprehensive 10-wicket defeat, they have not only slipped out of title contention, but also into relegation danger.

With Surrey, Kent and Leicestershire all winning, Lancashire are now sixth in the First Division table.

That is just above the relegation zone, and although Lancashire have a 23-point cushion over seventh-placed Glamorgan, the Welsh county have a game in hand.

So the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy is their last chance of glory this season -- making Wednesday's quarter final against Durham at Stanley Park even more important.

They picked up only six points from the Somerset game, but it was their limp surrender in the second innings that was especially worrying.

Jamie Haynes again went early, then Mark Chilton got a beauty from Steffan Jones's first ball.

Neil Fairbrother never looked comfortable and also went caught behind to Jones before Lancashire had even wiped off their first innings deficit of 61.

Andy Flintoff threatened to save Lancashire, pulling Jones for six and hitting the first three balls he faced from Ian Blackwell for four.

But soon after lunch Flintoff was bowled around his legs for 45 padding up to Blackwell, leaving him still searching for his first Championship half century of the season.

And the rest of the Lancashire batting fell away in the absence of captain John Crawley, who is still mourning the death of his mother.

Crawley remains a doubt for the Durham game, although Mike Atherton is available again after Test duty.