India v England: Missed chances cost tourists, says Michael Atherton

England are facing defeat and have been made to pay for chances missed on day three, says Michael Atherton.

Alastair Cook's side endured a torrid time on day four, allowing India to amass a 231-run first innings lead before losing six wickets in the final two sessions.

As a result, they trail by 49 runs with only four wickets remaining. However, Atherton argued that it is Saturday's spurned opportunities that really cost England.

Test Cricket: The Verdict

"It was a bad day, I thought England were poor in the morning," Atherton told Sky Sports. "They couldn't get the right combinations with the ball and the game ran away from them.

"They paid very dearly for the mistakes they made yesterday. If you think, all the hundred-makers were given lives: Jayant [Yadav] was dropped after the second new ball, [Virat] Kohli was dropped by [Adil] Rashid and there was a missed stumping off [Murali] Vijay.

"Those were very expensive misses and they paid for them today - they're up against it."

There was, at least, one positive for England on day four, in the form of Joe Root's innings . The vice-captain making a wonderful 77 as the tourists sought to recover from the loss of three early wickets.

"I can't tell you how good an innings that was from Joe Root," Atherton said. "It won't be remarked upon so much because all the headlines will be about Kohli.

"But if you think of the degree of difficulty of the innings that Root faced, firstly he's up against Ashwin in Asia - not Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid - and secondly, he's come in with England well behind in the game and they've lost three early wickets.

"I can't tell you how difficult it is to come out at the start of your innings and bat with the ball spitting and spinning straightaway - I was taken aback. I shouldn't really be taken aback because he's a brilliant player but I thought that was a fabulous innings."

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Root was eventually dismissed by Jayant and while Jonny Bairstow remains, having made an important half-century of his own, Atherton can see no way back for England.

"It's going to take a miracle of a day really," Atherton added. "You've still got [Jos] Buttler to come and Bairstow in there, so two very capable batsmen and one or two others who can hang around. But I think England are done really, that's the realistic assessment."

Watch the fifth and final day of the fourth Test between India and England, in Mumbai, from 3.45am on Monday, Sky Sports 2.