Essex face an uphill struggle if they are to avoid their first defeat of season in the County Championship after finishing 119 behind Lancashire with eight second innings wickets intact.
Centuries from Iain Sutcliffe and Mark Chilton allowed the hosts to gain a first innings advantage of 160 runs at Old Trafford despite the efforts of the persevering Essex attack.
But it was the appearance of Essex head coach Graham Gooch, 49, in an Essex sweater for the first time since 1997 that drew warm applause from the crowd.
Gooch was forced to take field as a substitute for seven overs when Scott Brant went off for treatment to a sore shin.
He stationed himself at short mid wicket and showed he was still nippy enough to chase a couple of deliveries and save second runs.
It took the visitors eight deliveries to gain their first wicket of the day, when Ronnie Irani had Mal Loye (33) lbw.
Stuart Law lasted 16 balls from Irani before the batsman executed a powerful straight drive, which Irani claimed with a marvellous one-handed catch.
Chilton and Sutcliffe added 83 for fourth wicket and passed Essex's 215 first innings total. But with off-spinner James Middlebrook in tight control, the batsmen were made to toil for runs.
Middlebrook was rewarded with a leg before decision against Sutcliffe. That brought in Carl Hooper, but the feared threat from the West Indian all-rounder was caught by Middlebrook off Paul Grayson's bowling.
Lancashire then adopted a cautious approach as they gradually made their way towards their advantage.
Only Warren Hegg and late order batsman Peter Martin lifted the spirits as both hit 23, while the watchful Chilton continued his role as the backbone of the innings.
Middlebrook took his second wicket when James Chapple edged to James Foster, before he caught Martin at third man with a tumbling catch. The fast bowler added the wicket of Gary Keedy two overs later.
The Essex fielding had been impressive all day and the quality was illustrated when Graham Napier, at long off, dived to his right to hold Chilton's fierce drive to end the hosts' innings.
Essex's second innings was soon in trouble after losing Darren Robinson and Will Jefferson in successive overs.
There were just 12 runs on the board when Jefferson lost his middle stump to a good length ball from Martin.
And in the next over, with two runs added, Robinson was given out caught behind, although the batsman clearly felt he had failed to get a touch.
Nasser Hussain and Andy Flower safely negotiated the eight overs to the close.
More on Essex County Cricket Club
Published Friday, May 16, 2003
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