Daylight robbery at Hillsborough. Lost: Three points.

Wednesday's play-off chances were left hanging by a thread after promotion rivals Tranmere Rovers left Hillsborough 2-1 winners on Saturday. But the game will be remembered for some atrocious refereeing decisions, in particular the sending off of Zigor Aranalde, that turned the game on it's head.

The Owls had started positively and seemed determined to get their promotion hopes back on track after a more than disappointing defeat at Huddersfield in midweek. Both sides tested each other early on and it was Tranmere that had the ball in the back of the net first, fortunately for Wednesday Ian Hume was judged offside so the goal was ruled out.

In the 31st minute the Owls were awarded a chance to open the scoring when Drew Talbot was brought down in the box. The Owls young striker was challenged heavily from behind by Rovers defender Mark Rankine. There was debate as to who would take the spot-kick but winger Chris Brunt was determined it was to be him. The Northern Ireland international made no mistake from the spot, blasting the ball home with full power straight down the middle.

Rovers, second best throughout the first half, were level minutes before the break under the first poor refereeing decision of the afternoon. Richard Wood's fair tackle was called the other way despite clearly taking the ball first and then the man. Despite being right in front of the linesman the call was still made for a Tranmere free-kick. From the resulting set-piece defender Michael Jackson punished Wednesday's lack of aerial power with a punishing header into the top right hand corner of the net.

Richard Wood was forced to go off at half-time after having suffered a dead leg in a challenge with his goalkeeper Paul Gallagher. Spanish defender Zigor Aranalde came on at left-back with Heckingbottom switching to a centre-back position. But amazingly after being on the field for just eight minutes Aranalde was given his marching orders, under bizarre circumstances. The former Walsall man had challenged for the ball in the air as the ball went past both players and out for a throw-in.

Referee Andre Marriner surprisingly not only gave a free-kick to Rovers, but pulled Aranalde over and gave him a straight red card for a supposed elbow. The decision left Owls players and fans alike shocked and appalled, television replays show Aranalde has every right to appeal the decision which could make him miss Wednesday's next three games.

For the second time this week the Owls were down to ten men. The game swung massively in Rover's way after Aranalde's sending off and on the hour mark they scored what would prove to be the decisive goal in the match.

Theodore Whitmore sprinted half the length of the field and drilled a low cross that beat Gallagher but not Patrick Collins. Unfortunately for the Owls Collins' outstretched leg fell into the path of Ian Hume who smartly back-heeled the ball into the net.

With only ten men on the park you always felt Wednesday's best chance of an equaliser would come from a set-piece, and Chris Brunt came close to doing exactly that. His left-footed low free kick missed the right hand post by a matter of inches.

At the other end Gallagher saved well with his legs to deny Rovers a third but there was no way back for Wednesday. To complete an awful week for the Owls was the news that all of Wednesday's promotion rivals had won their respective games, leaving the Owls with a tough run-in to the season.

Half-time: Owls 1-1 Tranmere

Paul Sturrock's post match comments:
"This is maybe the first time we're going to have to have words with the referee. The whole incident basically turned the game upside-down. It cost us dear because that was the best we've played in a recent home game. We worked very hard as a team, our midfield shape was good and our back four were the best they have played for a while."

"Lee (Bullen) was lying in a heap and you could see the arm - and there was no punishment. I could be here all day [talking about refereeing decisions] but in the end one of my players didn't pick the player up properly and it's cost us a goal. Whether you agree with the decision or not you've got to defend it."

"Now it's a dogfight we're in. We're one of the off-form teams - people are chasing us and can see light at the end of the tunnel. But if we continue to play like that I think we can get points from the Oldham and Hartlepool games."

AnzOwls' verdict:
For Wednesday to play so well in such an important game it's painful to accept this result based on such poor decision by the officials. There are positives though, and the Owls simply must fight on with just six games left in the season.