Wycombe Wanderers 2 Bristol Rovers 1: Bristol Rovers were unable to hold onto an early lead at Adams Park this afternoon and have suffered their first league defeat in four games.  

Midfielder Chris Lines had given Rovers a 26th minute lead by hooking in from close-range after defender Danny Coles had headed down a Stuart Campbell corner.

Wycombe, however, equalised ten minutes later through a spectacular effort from wideman Matt Philips, who drove a vicious shot from distance past Rhys Evans in the Rovers goal.

And Evans was left helpless again ten minutes from time when substitute Jon-Paul Pittman produced a similarly breathtaking effort after receiving the ball to feet on the edge of the box before pirouetting and slamming a blistering left-foot shot into the top corner.  

There were relatively few other chances for either side on an afternoon where dogged midfield play won out over aestethics and eloquence.

Rovers looked most likely in the first-half when trying to get the ball in behind to utilise the pace of attacking pair Jo Kuffour and Darryl Duffy. The Scotsman twice almost benefitted from the rudimentary tactic when Wycombe defender Michael Duberry played poor back passes. Former Rovers keeper Scott Shearer, however, was alert to the danger and thwarted Duffy on both ocassions.

Phillips had earlier gone close for Wycombe with a low drive from outside the area that flashed past Evans' post as Peter Taylor's side tried to dominate by a reliance on knockdowns from their big frontmen Matt Harrold and Chris Zebroski. 

Wycombe began to earn the upper hand after the teams returned from the break - although Rovers defended adequately in the early stages to limit the number of chances.

Big defender Luke Oliver almost made the breakthrough from a floted free-kick to the back post but his diving header when falling arrowed wide of the post on 64 minutes.

With Wycombe becoming increasingly dominant, Trollope looked to the bench for inspiration. He chose to offer teenager Ben Hunt a first appearance of the season in place of Darryl Duffy in a bid to halt the Chairboys' building momentum. 

And Rovers almost edged in front with virtually their first opportunity of the half but Jeff Hughes saw a delicious free-kick from the edge of the box float agonising wide of the post with ten minutes remaining.

Soon after, Coles went close with a header from Campbell's corner but Shearer collected comfortably and Rovers afternoon ended badly when Pittman clinched the winning goal with his spectacular effort.  

Bristol Rovers (4-4-2): Evans; Regan, Coles, Anthony, Lescott (Swallow 83); Pipe, Campbell, Lines, Hughes, Duffy (Hunt 71), Kuffour. Subs: Elliott, Blizzard, Reece, Richards, Cayford.

Wycombe Wanderers (4-5-1): Shearer; Moncur, Duberry, Oliver, Woodman; Zebroski, Green, Westlake (Beavon 61), Mousinho, Phillips; Harrold (Pittman 61). Subs: Young, Pittman, Spence, Westwood, Chambers, Pack.

Attendance: 5214