Norwich manager Glenn Roeder was furious with referee Trevor Kettle after he awarded Reading a late penalty.
Controversial decision leaves Canaries boss reeling
Norwich manager Glenn Roeder was furious with referee Trevor Kettle after he awarded Reading a late penalty.
Stephen Hunt netted from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute after Canaries captain Mark Fotheringham was adjudged to have handled the ball.
But Roeder was adamant that his player was fouled and blamed Kettle for changing the course of the match when three minutes later, substitute Shane Long headed home to seal all three points for Coppell's side.
"If you are beaten by a wonder goal then you hold your hands up and say we deserved a point but what a goal," Roeder said.
"The way we lost - and the second goal is incidental because the first goal has altered the game - leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
Foul
"It's a foul. The kid has been pushed in the back. As he has jumped he has been pushed forward.
"If that is not a 'homer's penalty' then I have never seen one. He (Kettle) didn't want to speak to me after the game, so with that I rest my case.
"Everyone gave 100 per cent and played for the shirt with pride and I feel for them because they have been let down. They didn't deserve that."
His opposite number Steve Coppell sympathised with Roeder but tried to defend Kettle, adding: "I thought it hit the top of his arm - although that's only after seeing it in real time, I haven't seen a replay."
Meanwhile the Coppell played down the significance of Reading's 2-0 win over Norwich in the race for automatic promotion from the Championship.
The Royals maintained the pressure on Wolves and Birmingham at the top of the table thanks to two goals in the last 10 minutes at the Madejski Stadium.
Importance
"That is our third win this week at a busy time of the season when the games come thick and fast, but I am not thinking about it in terms of its importance come the end of the season," said the Reading boss.
"I am not comparing our season with those two (Wolves and Birmingham) at the moment.
"I still think the middle third of the season establishes the home straight and we have just got to be in a contest with ourselves to get as many points as we can."
Coppell added: "I know we are in third position but I don't know how many points Birmingham have got and I only know how many points Wolves have got because I have just seen it downstairs.
"It is hard enough trying to win a game, never mind thinking we have got to win a game because those teams are so many points ahead of us."
