By Martin Gough BBC Sport at Derby

New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming is getting fed up with having to explain away defeats.

Fleming and coach John Bracewell have plenty of thinking to do

His side had an extra day to recover after England wrapped up a four-wicket win in the third Test at Trent Bridge last Sunday.

And by Wednesday they were down the road in Derby, their whites packed in their travelling cases to be replaced by black one-day fatigues.

New Zealand had enough on their plates after a 3-0 Test series whitewash, with a month left in the tour and a date to open the NatWest Series against England next Thursday.

But they were dealt another defeat to dwell on as Derbyshire, who had won just two previous one-day matches out of eight this season, battered the tourists' attack to claim a four-wicket upset.

Derbyshire, even at full strength, do not exactly compare with the threat posed by England and West Indies and neither do the Kiwis' next tour opponents, Essex and Northants.

"It's really disappointed us because we wanted three good games to play well and get a bit of confidence back after the Test series," captain Stephen Fleming admitted.

"This is not confidence building - in fact it's pretty deflating so we've got to be careful we don't get too dejected."

We're so close to having a good tour but we're just off Stephen Fleming

Fleming could at least be consoled by his own well-paced century, although he was still annoyed at getting out so early.

But after such a defeat, how does he convince his men they can turn a 3-0 Test whitewash into a one-day series victory?

Firstly, the stark score-line is barely half the story. A hard-fought series saw the first two Tests both evenly-balanced into the final day and the third end in thrilling fashion late on the fourth evening.

Fleming says the problems are "little things" and that the side are generally doing well, but admits that losing is beginning to annoy him.

Injuries, especially the back problem suffered by pace spearhead Shane Bond, played a major part.

One-day specialists and injury replacements have been drafted in and could make a significant impact on the one-day series.

But in his first game replacing Bond, Ian Butler's figures of
2-62 suggested he is not back to his best after an ankle problem.

The Kiwis hope Ian Butler will put some fizz into their attack

The rest of the bowling armoury are generally economical, as England's run rate in much of the Test series showed, but are not wicket-taking threats.

Left-arm pace bowler James Franklin demonstrated during his emergency Test appearance that he can make things happen.

And Fleming sees him as key to taking wickets in that middle period, after the fielding restrictions have been relaxed but before batsmen go mad in the search for runs - the last 10 overs known as "the death".

Spinner Daniel Vettori, if as hoped he proves his recover from a hamstring tear in the final warm-up match on Sunday, will perform a similar role.

"You need variation in the middle - in this day and age you've got to take wickets in the middle to hold the run-rate - that's one of my concerns," said Fleming.

The biggest doubt remains the form of their middle order, particularly the stalwarts Nathan Astle and Craig McMillan.

Hamish Marshall is likely to inject some pace batting at three. His innings at Derby ended on eight, including an all-run four, when he sacrificed himself in a mix-up with his skipper.

"Perhaps if I can get another 10 or 15 runs out of myself that will be the difference but other guys I hope are thinking that as well," said Fleming.

"We're so close to having a good tour but we're just off and that's enough to be getting hurt."

The Black Caps have until next Thursday to put it right.