Assistant coach Matt Mason admitted leaders Worcestershire will be looking to "get back on track" on the second day of their LV = County Championship clash with Surrey at New Road.
Mason, who is also Worcestershire's bowling coach, felt a total of 272 was below par before Surrey reached 59-0 by the close of the opening day.
Joe Leach (70) top-scored with Moeen Ali and Tom Kohler-Cadmore also notching half centuries.
Mason said: "I think to be honest on reflection we were a little bit disappointed with the day.
"It took another great effort from the guys down the bottom of the order to rescue our innings really.
"I thought the Joe Leach-Tom Kohler-Cadmore partnership (of 95) got us out of trouble and some bowling at times from Surrey which was a little bit loose.
"It is an under-par score. We should have got well over 300 if we had applied ourselves a bit better, particularly the top order.
"With the ball there at the end, I thought Charlie bowled a really good spell but probably just a few too many boundary balls from big Mitch (McClenaghan).
"All in all, I would say we were disappointed at the end of day one. It looked a pretty good wicket – and I think it was a good wicket.
"We perhaps didn't play accordingly. There were some poor shots, balls wide of off stump, playing across the swinging ball, just basic technical stuff, probably errors of judgement from our batters in the top five.
"We were happy to win the toss and bat, the idea being to get a big first innings total and set up the game."
Mason added: "I spoke to the umpires at the end of innings and they said it had done it through the air, a bit of late swing from their bowlers, nothing too much off the pitch and again not a huge amount of turn for the spinners.
"All in all it sounded like a pretty good wicket so tomorrow we are going to have to work quite hard.
"It should be a better wicket to bat on tomorrow and it will be a case of stacking good areas and doing the basics well with the ball and getting back on track."
Moeen hit nine fours in his 71 ball half century in his first appearance for Worcestershire since the end of June.
Mason said: "It was terrific to see Mo. A great lift for the boys. He is a big character in our dressing room and great for the supporters to see him after such a long time.
"They've only been able to see him on TV with the big boys (England) and it's great to have him back and hopefully he will do well for us with the ball."
Leach followed up his 71 against Derbyshire at Derby with another crucial contribution.
Mason said: "That is the great thing about Joe, he is such a competitor, a real fighter with bat and ball, and the great thing about being an all-rounder is that you can contribute with both.
"He has rescued us again there and has got a great job to do tomorrow with the ball as well."
