Director of cricket Chris Silverwood is looking for Essex to bounce back strongly following a three-day defeat by Somerset in their last County Championship match.

After beating Hampshire with a day to spare a week earlier, Essex were always on the back foot after being bowled out for just 149 in their first innings.

“Cricket is a great leveller and we’ve found ourselves on the receiving end this week,” Silverwood told BBC Essex.

“There are many lessons for us to learn moving forwards and we’ve got to improve, simple as that.

“Losing two wickets in five minutes before lunch really took the wind out of our sails; it was very difficult to come back from there.

“And going into the Somerset innings we were really good for 15 overs and then lost our discipline a bit, we got too straight and the statistics back that up.”

The former England head coach said he thought his side were still in with a chance at 131-3 in their second innings at the end of day two.

But they fell away again the following morning and were bowled out for 245, with Somerset then knocking off the runs they needed in under six overs.

“Defending such a small score like that, it usually happens in a rush. We needed more runs to play with and unfortunately didn’t have them,” said Silverwood.

“As disappointing as this is, and I’m sure the players, the staff and the members are feeling it and that’s understandable, we have to put this behind us. They come thick and fast and we can’t be dragging any baggage into the next game.”

Essex start a new game against Warwickshire at Edgbaston on Friday and skipper Tom Westley and South Africa all-rounder Wiaan Mulder will be assessed before their squad can be confirmed.

Mulder suffered a back spasm against Somerset, while Westley is still recovering from a damaged finger which led to him being substituted on the opening day of the win over Hampshire.

Silverwood added: “He sustained quite a nasty cut on that finger, as well as a crack, and I think it’s mainly what they’re worrying about. Let’s see if he can get the glove on and hold the bat first.”