When it comes to Bristol Rovers' goalkeeping pool, the waters are currently decidedly muddy – and at Wycombe, Rhys Evans was the only fish left in the pond.

A couple of weeks ago, the club were overflowing with shot-stoppers by comparison.

But the departures of Mike Green and Steve Phillips on loan was followed by the sudden exit of Fraser Forster to Norwich after the Pirates' board refused to meet Newcastle's demand for them to pay a higher percentage of his wages.

The confusing situation has undermined the earlier noises coming from the club about increasing competition for the number one position and has now, understandably, become a major talking point for supporters.

Unwittingly, Evans has found himself the man in the middle of all this some nine-and-a-half years after he made his league debut for the Pirates while on loan from Chelsea. And until some clarification comes over the status of his current short-term deal – presumably later today – it remains unclear whether he will still have the shirt for tomorrow night's trip to Hereford in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

"It's been a very strange week and it wasn't the ideal build-up to a game," Evans said.

"We had discussions the day before about lengthening my stay here and ideally I would have liked things to have been sorted out before the game. It's hard enough to play under normal pressure, and I found it hard to get it out of my mind."

It's hard to say whether such mental distractions contributed to the Pirates' first away defeat of the campaign, for both Wycombe's goals came from blistering strikes – and questions have to be asked about the side's defending as a whole in both instances.

But Evans is realistic enough to know that being part of a disappointing defeat is hardly going to strengthen his negotiating position.

"Now I have come in and we've lost a game after a winning run, so to people from outside that's not going to look too good," he admitted.

"But I think there have been small improvements in every game I've played. There have been gaps between them and that was only my fourth one since the end of April, so I'd like to get a run of games now to try and get myself to the level I know I can reach. I think I can do a good job for the club.

"My deal here is until September 9, but if I let it run over the transfer deadline it means I can't sign for anyone else until January. I really hope something gets sorted out so I can settle in to the team.

"Lennie Lawrence said there is a willingness to offer me something. Obviously the club want to get me as cheaply as they can and I want as much as I can, so hopefully we can meet in the middle somewhere. I understand it's a difficult market at the moment and I'm not going to shoot myself in the foot by asking for ridiculous things, but if it's fair I'll be more than happy to stay."

Rather ironically, it was former Rovers' keeper Scott Shearer who had the early problems at Adams Park, caused by a couple of under-hit back-passes from team-mate Michael Duberry. Darryl Duffy closed in on both occasions and Wycombe were fortunate to survive unpunished.

They weren't so lucky midway through the opening period, however, as their vulnerability from set pieces surfaced again. Danny Coles rose to get in a downward header from Stuart Campbell's corner, and Chris Lines swept the ball home from close range to put the visitors in front.

It ought to have been the cue for the Pirates to go on and record their fourth league win in a row, but what followed was in stark contrast to the way they had outplayed a much better Huddersfield side a week earlier.

Wycombe youngster Matt Phillips had already issued a 19th-minute warning with a long-range shot which whistled narrowly wide, and nine minutes before the break he cut in from the left to smash a searing shot high into the net.

"I was a bit unsighted, but I'd have needed a stepladder to reach it," said Evans.

Rovers emerged for the second half looking in the mood to re-establish their advantage and had a good spell of pressure, during which time they forced a string of corners. But nothing came of them and their performance then degenerated into one that was decidedly lacklustre.

Unable to hold the ball up front and give themselves a platform to build from, the visitors saw Wycombe keep coming at them and they were fortunate to escape when giant central defender Luke Oliver sent a header wide from six yards following a free kick.

Though Jeff Hughes saw a well-struck free kick of his own deflected just wide 13 minutes from time, the killer blow was to arrive at the other end three minutes later.

Wycombe worked the ball into the box from Rovers' left and substitute Jon-Paul Pittman was allowed space to turn and blast home another scorcher to settle the outcome.

Youngster Ben Swallow, a late arrival from the bench, once again handed the visitors fresh impetus and almost became their stoppage-time salvation when his cross flashed across the face of goal.

But it was too little too late from the Pirates, who will need to do better than this if they are to keep in touch with the early-season pace-setters.

Wycombe: Shearer, Moncur, Oliver, Duberry, Woodman, Zebroski, Green, Mousinho, Westlake (Beavon 60), Harrold (Pittman 60), Phillips. Subs Not Used: Young, Spence, Westwood, Chambers, Pack.

Bristol Rovers: Evans, Regan, Anthony, Coles, Lescott (Swallow 83), Lines, Campbell, Hughes, Pipe, Duffy (Hunt 70), Kuffour. Subs Not Used: Elliott, Blizzard, Reece, Richard, Rayford.