Wasps failed to lift English spirits in Europe as they experienced another miserable Heineken Cup away day after producing a sloppy performance at Stade Aime Giral.

And there was yet another injury scare for England head coach Andy Robinson just eight days before his struggling world champions tackle New Zealand.

Josh Lewsey, a probable starter at wing or full-back against the All Blacks, suffered what appeared to be a knee injury that forced him off early in the second half.

World Cup winner Lewsey looked in considerable pain as he left the action, giving Robinson more cause for concern during a build-up that has already seen him lose the likes of Olly Barkley, Jonny Wilkinson, Stuart Abbott and Steve Borthwick.

Lewsey's exit epitomised a miserable afternoon for Wasps in southern France after they failed to move out of first gear during an error-strewn Pool One encounter.

Wasps lost all three away games in their pool last season, a sequence that destroyed any quarter-final hopes, and on this latest evidence, they could again struggle to progress.

Wasps were the solitary victors among England's six Heineken Cup representatives last weekend, but they were unable to repeat the feat as Perpignan lock Colin Gaston's early try proved crucial.

Fly-half Steve Meyer weighed in with three penalties and a conversion, while substitute Nicolas Laharrague's 74th-minute penalty finished Wasps off after fly-half Jeremy Staunton, who earlier completed a penalty hat-trick, was sin-binned for a technical offence.

Wasps gained a losing bonus point when Alex King landed a late penalty, but rugby director Ian McGeechan has much to ponder before the Heineken Cup campaign resumes with back-to-back games against Treviso in December.

Lawrence Dallaglio and Phil Vickery continued their comebacks from injury for Wasps, while McGeechan made two changes following a hard-fought victory over Castres, calling up hooker Joe Ward and flanker Joe Worsley.

England autumn Test hopeful Perry Freshwater though, was forced out of the Perpignan side after failing to recover in time from a leg injury suffered against opening Pool One opponents Treviso last weekend, so Sebastien Chobet deputised in a team captained by Scotland international lock Nathan Hines.

Wasps recorded arguably their finest Heineken Cup away win when they smashed Perpignan 34-6 in 2004 en route to being crowned European champions, but the return visit began miserably.

Wing Paul Sackey, one of seven uncapped players in Robinson's England squad for the Bonfire Night clash with New Zealand, failed to deal with a testing kick deep inside his 22, and Perpignan made him pay.

Scrum-half Nicolas Durand went close from the ensuing lineout, but Wasps could not rip possession away and Gaston claimed the touchdown under a pile of bodies.

Meyer slotted the conversion, and although Staunton landed an impressive 50-metre penalty five minutes later, Wasps trailed following a hesitant opening.

Despite perfect playing conditions - the temperature nudged 27 degrees - both sides toiled to produce constructive attacking phases.

Perpignan extended their lead through a Meyer penalty after Josh Lewsey late-tackled home centre Gavin Hume, before Staunton's second successful strike kept Wasps in contention at four points adrift.

But there was a worrying moment for the visitors when lock Simon Shaw fell heavily from a lineout and required extensive treatment to his back until gingerly rejoining the action.

Meyer booted another long-range penalty four minutes before the break, which Staunton quickly cancelled out, yet Perpignan restored a seven-point lead by half time.

Ayoola Erinle had replaced Mark Van Gisbergen, which meant Lewsey moving to his probable England position of full-back, when lock Tom Palmer's reckless late lunge on Perpignan's Julien Laharrague saw Meyer punish his indiscretion by kicking the three points.

Perpignan were good value for a 16-9 interval advantage, with Wasps needing to regroup and show much more composure under pressure in their quest for a priceless away win.

But Wasps continued to suffer from uncertainty early in the second period, as Erinle twice dropped possession after being put clear, then the visitors suffered a double injury blow.

Worsley departed after taking a heavy blow, then Lewsey limped away having spent more than five minutes trying to run off his injury.

Staunton moved to full-back, with Alex King taking over at fly-half as a disappointing game continued to be dominated by unforced errors before Laharrague put Wasps out of their misery.