Peter Grant's battle with football officialdom continued unabated yesterday as Norwich City finished their season the way they began it - with defeat in Yorkshire.

Peter Grant's battle with football officialdom continued unabated yesterday as Norwich City finished their season the way they began it - with defeat in Yorkshire.

The City boss was furious with referee Clive Penton, claiming that one decision in particular cost City a goal in the 3-2 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday - and led to a crucial second on the stroke of half-time for their hosts.

Robert Earnshaw was controversially pulled up for offside and he sped towards goal searching for an equaliser - and moments later Wednesday were two ahead.

Grant was furious and as the players walked down the tunnel at half-time he waited for the match officials to make his feelings known.

"Earnshaw is through and I have no doubt he would have finished it, no doubt in my mind, even from that position," said Grant. "He was through and the defender is on the wrong side of him heading towards the box. And not just the decision, but from the free kick they end up getting a goal from it. It ends up going into a corner, cross, then goal. It all snowballed - we could have been equalising. It's big decision and you can't get decisions wrong that are as plain as that."

Grant was also angry that Darren Huckerby was booked for diving - and that Dickson Etuhu's influence on the game was blunted by a first-half caution.

"If they can't keep up with play they shouldn't be refs or linesmen," he said. "Dickson Etuhu gets smashed from behind, no booking - that's fine, no problem with that. Then Dickson does the exact same thing and gets booked.

"That's what I talk about knowing the rules - every time the ball gets kicked forward they have three players offside, they flick it on, that player gets it and he says he wasn't interfering with play.

"I don't know the rules, honest to God - and you talk about getting frustrated at the side of the pitch. You talk about people putting rules together - well let's know the rules because there are so many grey areas it beggars belief."

Defeat yesterday came nine months after City - then under Nigel Worthington - opened the season with a 1-0 defeat at Leeds.

Having conceded two in the first half, goalkeeper Tony Warner had a moment to forget, completely missing a backpass by Etuhu and allowing the ball to roll into the net for a third.

Robert Earnshaw pulled one back with a terrific volley 10 minutes after the break, with Dion Dublin, on what could prove to be his last appearance for the club, scoring a third with 15 minutes remaining.