The assistant referees tended to be flag happy throughout, but when Andy Woolmer reversed a penalty decision in favour of Norwich and gave offside instead the fans and players had good cause to feel aggrieved.
Earlier he had disallowed Peter Thorne's 'goal' after Mark Crossley had tangled with Jason Shackell, despite the fact that the keeper appeared to be largely responsible for the ensuing tumble.
The Owls kicked off attacking the River End goal and, after just five minutes, Glenn Whelan was booked for tripping Darren Huckerby when the lively winger was in full flight.
Adam Drury's left-wing cross was headed for a corner by Tommy Spur who got to the ball just before Thorne.
Ryan Jarvis then released Huckerby but he screwed his shot wide when through on goal.
Jurgen Colin was booked for a foul after 16 minutes before Marcus Tudgay had two shots in quick succession that were deflected for corners.
Huckerby then made a good run from an on-side position and was unlucky to be flagged offside.
When Huckerby did get in a cross, Thorne headed over when he should have done better while at the other end Chris Brunt's fierce shot went wide.
Lee Camp did well to block Spur's shot towards the end of a goalless first half.
Deon Burton had the first shot of the second half but cleared the bar from long range. Six minutes after the break Kenny Lunt was booked for a foul on Huckerby and after 58 minutes Ryan Jarvis made way for Paul McVeigh.
Wayne Andrews saw his shot headed behind by Shackell and was replaced by Steven MacLean before the corner was taken. At the other end Andy Hughes was set up by Huckerby but his shot was deflected over the bar.
Thorne then had the goal disallowed and Camp was desperately unlucky in the 79th minute when Madjid Bougherra's shot hit the woodwork, bounced down and entered the net via the City keeper.
Burton made it 2-0 from six yards when, for once, Dion Dublin failed to clear the danger.
However, Dublin pulled a goal back after 85 minutes with a powerful far-post header from Huckerby's left-wing free-kick.
Then came the controversial decision that probably denied Norwich an undeserved point but it was the Owls that got their reward for a shoot-on-sight approach to the match.