HE might have had the backing of Neil Lennon – but that didn’t stop the feelings of injustice for Sheffield Wednesday boss Stuart Gray after seeing a late equaliser ruled out at Hillsborough.

Stevie May thought he had rescued a point for his side on Saturday when he nudged Atdhe Nuhiu’s thunderbolt over the line, only to be flagged offside.

“We got away with one there,” Lennon admitted after the game. “I can only call it like I see it.”

Gray was fuming about the decision after the final whistle, which left his side nursing a defeat which derailed their recent progress.

"Stevie May is a centre forward, he's checked his run and he's actually behind his man when Atdhe shoots,” he said.

"It's disappointing because decisions like that are costly and we haven't got the decision today.

"I'm told Neil agrees that Stevie was onside but that doesn't make me feel any better because we have nothing from the game."

Wednesday’s cause was not helped by a late red card for Sam Hutchinson – the third in the former Chelsea midfielder’s young career.

Team-mate Liam Palmer felt referee Graham Scott acted too quickly in issuing a second yellow card for a sliding challenge on Josh Vela – less than 10 minutes after his first, for another lunging tackle on Darren Pratley.

“I thought it was harsh,” Palmer said. “The first one, fair enough, it's an all-or-nothing challenge. If he gets the ball it's a great tackle. He was a couple of yards off and he took him out.

“The second one he slid in for the initial challenge and the momentum of the pitch took him through. I think it was harsh to send him off.

“He'll be gutted, I could see it on his face. He's worked hard to get back, he's a big player for us.”

Palmer admitted a dreadful start cost the Owls a chance to make ground on the top six.

“The first 10 or 15 minutes we weren't good enough, we gave ourselves too much to do. We gave them a two-goal lead and it's always uphill from there.”