Gloucestershire director of cricket John Bracewell has run out of patience with his misfiring batting line-up and is planning changes to the County Championship side.

Speaking after Derbyshire clinched a 185-run victory at Cheltenham to oust their hosts at the top of the table, Bracewell pulled no punches in his assessment of where the game was lost.

"The umpires told me that they couldn't believe the best bowling side in the game were so far behind in the game, and they probably had a closer look at it than anybody else," he said.

"It was disappointing that our batting failed in two innings. It's not the first time it's happened this season, and it's something we'll have to address in terms of our attitude to batting and creating greater competition for places.

"The message has gone out clearly to the batters in both the first and second teams that performance counts.

"I'm pleased to hear that our seconds have won this week, with David Brown and Grant Hodnett scoring runs. The other pleasing thing is that Will Porterfield scored runs with the Irish side and he will be back with us for the Northants game next week."

Gloucestershire CCC were bowled out for 300 yesterday afternoon – despite a century from James Franklin – having been chasing an unlikely 486 to win their first Championship match at the College since 2001.

They had managed a paltry 164 in their first innings, while a disappointing match also saw several costly dropped catches in the slip and gully region.

Bracewell said: "It wasn't a quality catching performance, and sometimes that can happen when some of your slip fielders aren't specialists in that position.

"That's a strength that Grant (Hodnett) and Richard Dawson bring, while William (Porterfield) is developing in that position, so that gives them another string to their bow in terms of putting pressure on the selectors to make changes."

Experienced seamer Jon Lewis echoed Bracewell's frustrations after seeing the side's flying start to the four-day season undermined by back-to-back defeats.

"We've been outplayed over four days by a team that, on paper, we should be beating," said Lewis.

"The wicket should suit the way we play, with swing bowlers and guys who hit the deck like Anthony Ireland and Steve Kirby.

"But it's also a wicket where you also need your batters to score big, and the guys haven't done that. It's disappointing but I know they're all working hard to put that right."

The Festival takes a break today, with Gloucestershire beginning their campaign in the NatWest Pro40 League against old rivals Worcestershire tomorrow.