CITY were defeated 3-1 in a highly-controversial match away to League One strugglers Tranmere Rovers.

Tranmere stormed into a 2-0 lead after referee Eddie Ilderton awarded two debatable penalties - sending 'keeper Fraser Forster off as he awarded the second.

Rovers skipper Ian Thomas-Moore netted both spot-kicks and then Rovers added a third as Craig Curran netted despite strong claims he had handled the ball in the process of controlling it.

Grant Holt pulled one back for a battling City side in the second half - but then boss Paul Lambert was sent to the stands by the referee, where he was joined by Head of Football Operations Gary Karsa.

After the game Lambert was asked how he felt about the way the game panned out: "Probably a bit mixed really because I thought some of the decisions were incredible, second half I thought we were excellent and even the first half I thought we had a lot of the ball. But the decisions I don't know where he's got them from."

Asked if there were doubts over all three Tranmere goals, he commented: "Definitely over the third one that's for sure, the first penalty I I couldn't see what actually happened but he's booked the wrong man in the first instance. I just thought some of the decisions were poor. Sometimes if you don't start the game right that's what can happen. The good thing is that we never capitulated, we kept on going and the crowd saw that and I thought they kept with us and thankfully we have another game Monday."

The City boss praised his players for sticking to their task in trying circumstances and not leading their heads drop: "No never and that's one thing about them I'll give them credit for that. On Monday another tough game but we're at home. Yes we got beat, so we pick ourselves up and go again."

Tranmere took the lead in controversial fashion from the penalty spot in only the 6th minute.

As the ball was loose in the area Ben Gordon's shot was scrambled away off the line and the referee allowed play to continue. But the assistant referee on the far side waved his flag and signalled a penalty, apparently for handball on the line as the ball appeared to be blasted against Darel Russell's arm by his side.

After consulting his fellow official referee Eddie Ilderton reached for his pocket and produced a yellow card for a baffled Russell Martin despite strong protests from City and then pointed to the spot. Rovers skipper Ian Thomas-Moore rammed home the spot-kick.

Just four minutes later and a bad start became even worse when Fraser Forster was shown the red card in the process of conceding another penalty.

Forster was left horribly exposed by a poor backpass from Gary Doherty which stuck on the heavy surface invitingly for Thomas-Moore to race on to. One-on-one with the Norwich 'keeper kicked the ball past him and as Forster tried to reach the ball the Tranmere skipper crashed to the turf.

Referee Mr Ilderton pointed to the spot again - and he also produced a red card for City's unfortunate 'keeper.

Lambert brought Declan Rudd on for Simon Lappin and the young 'keeper's first job was to pick the ball out of the net as Thomas-Moore rifled home the penalty to make it 2-0.

City battled back and Stephen Elliot hit a low shot just wide before Grant Holt rounded the 'keeper in the 23rd minute only for his goalbound shot to be hacked off the line by Goodison.

But on the half-hour they were three down. The ball seemed to strike the hand of Craig Curran - but this time the officials felt no handball had taken place and Curran was able to lash in an angled shot which gave Rudd no chance.

Despite the increasingly difficult task ahead of them the Canaries continued to threaten at the other end and in the 37th minute a goalmouth scramble from Drury's free-kick saw central defenders Doherty and Nelson denied by frantic blocks in the six-yard box.

Two minutes later a Hoolahan first-time volley from 20 yards skimmed inches wide of the post. And three minutes before half-time yet another chance came City's way, this time Hughes side-footing wide from Russell Martin's driven cross.

At half-time Lambert replaced Stephen Elliott with Chris Martin.

In the 56th minute Paul McLaren was booked for a high challenge on City's Stephen Hughes.

Two minutes later and the half's first decent chance fell to Chris Martin, who did well to create space for himself on the edge of the Tranmere box before drilling a low shot which Daniels collected at the second attempt.

But as the game reached the hour-mark there was double drama.

First Grant Holt scored goal 29 of the season to throw the Canaries a lifeline. It came after substitute Chris Martin did really to keep the ball in play before crossing to his strike partner. Holt eventually steered the ball home from close range past a furious Rovers 'keeper Daniels, who felt Martin had not kept the ball in play - and he was promptly booked for his protestations.

And referee Mr Ildeton then made yet another controversial decision as he sent City boss Lambert and Head of Football Operations Gary Karsa to the stands. It appeared Lambert had merely entered the field of play to kick the ball back for a free-kick to be taken - but Mr Ildeton strode over and first pointed Karsa to the stands and then Lambert.

With a quarter of an hour of the game remaining Anthony McNamee came on for Stephen Elliott.

And the winger nearly helped earn City a second goal when his dangerous cross from the right in the 82nd minute was only half-cleared by the Rovers defence and Hoolahan volleyed the rebound wide from the angle of the six-yard box.

At the other end Tranmere skipper Thomas-Moore was only denied a hat-trick by the woodwork as his speculative effort cannoned off the frame of the goal.

With five minutes to go referee Mr Ilderton emphatically waved away City claims for a penalty as leading scorer Holt felt he was fouled during a scramble in the Tranmere area.