Surrey boss Paul Sheldon insists his struggling county are short on confidence, not talent, despite seeing them win only four games out of 19 this season.

The original kings of Twenty20 face Essex at Chelmsford tonight knowing that another defeat will probably extinguish their barely flickering hopes of reaching next month's quarter-finals.

And ejection from a Cup which now offers entry to the lucrative Champions League would complete a grim two months for Surrey. They are already out of the Friends Provident Trophy and lie bottom of the County Championship's first division.

"In terms of the Twenty20, it is a huge disappointment," said chief executive Sheldon.

"We have to win our last five games. I wouldn't say we have given up, but the statistics speak for themselves.

"In a competition like the Twenty20 you need confidence and we certainly look as though we are lacking in that. I have no doubt we have a sufficiently talented squad but we just haven't performed."

Skipper Mark Butcher (left) is facing a month out after knee surgery while leg-spinner Chris Schofield, who took 17 wickets at nine runs apiece in last year's

Twenty20, has only just returned following a broken thumb.

A few weeks ago, Middlesex members demanded an emergency meeting because of their earlyseason struggles. Since then, they have won eight consecutive matches.

But Sheldon insists that rebellion is not in the air at The Oval. "One or two good results will turn it around," he said.