Surrey coach remains defiant

Medlycott is also targeting the National Cricket League title

Surrey coach Keith Medlycott has conceded the Championship pennant may not be staying at The Oval after his team lost to Lancashire on Friday.

Bookmakers installed Sussex as odds-on favourites after Surrey's first defeat of the season.

And Medlycott told the BBC Sport website: "Bookmakers don't get too many things wrong."

"But we have got a potential 44 points to chase in our next two weeks and that's all we can aim to do."

The champions are one point ahead of Sussex, but have just two games ahead whereas Chris Adams's team has three.

Surrey's remaining two games are a potentially tough trip to Canterbury to face Kent, followed by what should be an easier home match against Essex.

We gave 100% but it was not good enough Keith Medlycott Match report: Lancs bt Surrey

Sussex, who have never won the Championship but are around 5/2 on to win it this year, have home games against Middlesex and Leicestershire.

But they also face the same difficult trip to Old Trafford which proved such a tough assignment for Adam Hollioake's team.

Medlycott said: "Having watched Lancashire this week, of course they are good enough to beat Sussex.

"But we are not looking at what other people might do.

"We gave 100% but it was not good enough on what proved to be a good cricket wicket.

"We now travel to Headingley for a huge one-day game on Sunday which, if we win the match, puts us in a great position to win another trophy."

Surrey head the National Cricket League by four points, with a game in hand over their only possible challengers Gloucestershire.