Despite a spirited display, Wednesday will feel hard done by especially after the team showed fight and spirit but came home with the wrong result.
Following Steve MacLean’s goal to make it 2-1 to the home side, referee Milner awarded a penalty about five seconds after a clean Guy Branston tackle on Ian Hume on the advice of his assistant which Rovers’ Ryan Taylor duly dispatched.
Turner fumed: “Decisions like that even up over the season. There were poor decisions which changed the game. It was a poor performance by the referee all night."
It seems as if Turner will be ready to discipline Branston though after his straight red card and the former Rotherham defender will miss the next three games.
From a fans perspective, many supporters were left bewildered regarding the new and controversial Owls Away Card which was put into use for the first time.
Travelling Wednesdayites were surprised to see that fans could pay on the gate at Prenton Park and get in without showing the card, which cost supporters £10 for the ‘privilege’ of following their team away.
Granted, Tranmere are one of the few teams not to fully support the club’s scheme but Wednesday have processed 2000 cards and by that figure, a few away attendances will be down on that of last season.
Wednesday usually get around 3500 tickets to games at Barnsley, Peterborough, Stockport, Bristol City and Bradford to name but a few and more often than not sell out their allocation.
In an open letter from Owls operations manager Alan Roberts before the game last night, he apologised for Tranmere’s ticketing policy but added that the OAC procedure will be in use for the club clash with Coventry.
Roberts wrote: “You may be aware that tonight’s opponents, Tranmere Rovers. Are unfortunately the only club in league one that has so far declined to co-operate with our full requests in implementing the OCC.
“While they are supportive of the principle, they have insisted on selling tickets over the turnstiles this evening. Unfortunately we have no jurisdiction over their ticketing policy
“We apologise to OAC holders who feel let down by Tranmere’s decision but would assure you that we expect your membership to be fully rewarded at all our other away matches this season.”
It now begs the question, should Wednesday get a big FA Cup clash at Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal or Newcastle, the away club is allowed around 10percent of the tickets for their own supporters, yet at the moment only 2000 will be able to go.
And will the card be brought into practice should The Owls get to Cardiff in the Carling Cup, FA Cup, most likely the play-off final and the LDV Trophy (they were drawn against Chester City this morning)…2000 seats taken from an allocation of 35000?