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.
Final score: Tranmere 3 Norwich 1
90+4: Curran has a dig but it's straight into the arms of Declan Rudd.
90+3: Thomas-Moore again tests Rudd as he sniffs his hat-trick.
90+2: Taylor tries one from distance but no trouble for Rudd as it goes wide.
90th: Four minutes additional time has been signalled.
89th: Drury lifts ball to far post looking for Holt, it evades his captain and Doherty can't quite collect and it goes out for goal kick.
87th: Tranmere have another corner. Labadie's delivery met by Taylor who heads well over.
85th: Holt wins free-kick - Broomes booked. McNamee takes and curls the ball into the box and through a mass of bodies it's digged out by Tranmere. Calls for a penalty as Holt goes down but the referee waves play on.
83rd: Thomas-Moore hits the woodwork with Rudd beaten.
82nd: Great chance for the Canaries. Chris Martin attacks the near post and the ball breaks for Hoolahan but he scuffs his shot well-wide of the far post.
80th: Labadie takes a corner and it goes out to McCready but his shot luckily hits his team-mate Marlon Broomes and Declan Rudd gathers.
79th: Tranmere corner, Taylor's cross was deflected, but well defended by the Canaries. Joss Labadie replaces McClaren for Rovers.
77th: McNamee with curling delvery from left cleared by Tranmere.
76th: Adam Drury takes free-kick for City just inside Rovers' half.
75th: Anthony McNamee replaces Stephen Hughes.
73rd: Curran with curling effort which referee deems took a deflection and he awards a corner to Rovers. The ball comes in and Tranmere go close again.
68th: Great interception by Doherty from Gordon - the forward receives treatment.
66th: Hoolahan linking up with Hughes around the box but the Scot just misplaces his attempt at a one-two and Tranmere clear.
64th: Tranmere attack - Declan Rudd makes a great save with his feet from Welsh.
60th: Both Paul Lambert and Gary Karsa have been sent to the stands by the referee.
59th: Grant Holt pulls one back! Chris Martin crossed and finds his captain who strikes home. Luke Daniels booked for remonstrating with linesman obviously feels Martin didn't keep the ball in play before he crossed.
58th: Chris Martin with low drive from edge of area after good build-up play. Tranmere break and Terry Garnell heads just wide.
56th: Booking for McClaren for high challenge on Hughes. Drury puts high cross into box but Nelson heads over.
55th: City corner - good move from City through midfield - Hughes with one two with Holt and the defender concedes flag-kick.
48th: City have free-kick on edge of box Holt fouled. Martin takes free-kick but it's deflected off Welsh for corner. Hoolahan's delivery is palmed out by Daniels and Tranmere clear danger.
Tranmere kick second-half off.
The Canaries are out for second-half - looks like Chris Martin has replaced Stephen Elliott.
Half-time: Tranmere 3 City 0
'... and the minimum time added on that was played was actually less than the time they displayed !!! Whatever happens it can't be good to play with 10 men on this pitch for the bulk of the game, with another match in 2 days.... I sense that Lambert will bring on more forwards at half-time...' - camberwick_g
'They don't even need a goalie with these officials, I don't think I've ever been so angry watching a game, the missus has already gone out and I suspect the neighbours maybe complaining shortly, lol' - IMT
'The Club should lodge official complaints against these officials they are diabolical' - camberwick_g
45+3: Thomas-Moore tries a curling effort on edge of box but it's wide of Rudd's far post.
45th: Nelson concedes a corner. Delivery headed out by Doherty and then blazes high and wide by Tranmere. Three minutes remain.
44th: Corner to City after good work on left. Nelson heads high over the bar from Hoolahan's corner.
43rd: Ben Gordon crosses dangerously into City's box but evades everyone and it goes out for goal kick.
42nd: Great chance for Hughes. Throw by R. Martin to Elliott who puts ball in and Hughes connects at near post but it just goes wide.
39th: Hoolahan has a good effort but it whistles past post, looked to have got a touch by 'keeper but goal-kick given.
37th: Tranmere attack on break but Doherty makes a great block nalthough forward deemed offside.
36th: City free-kick on far side. Hoolahan delivery causes scramble both Doherty and Holt unable to dig it out and it's cleared for corner. Again good pressure from corner but just unable to direct it goalwards.
35th: Two good chances for City - first Russell has effort saved by Daniels and then ther ball is put across the face of the Tranmere goal but it evades Elliott and runs out.
34th: Rudd clears from Thomas-Moore with his legs.
31st: Holt again has an effort cleared off the line by Goodison.
29th: Good save by Rudd from Curran concedes corner. Corner comes in and Welsh's initial shot is blocked, calls for handball again from the home crowd but this time nothing is given but the ball falls to Craig Curran and he crashes a fierce shot home.
28th: 'It will finish 2-2. They are going to keep dropping deeper and deeper as the game goes on and our superior fitness will show through if we can keep the ball' - norwichaggy.
26th: City free-kick far left, Elliott fouled. Russell takes and it drifts to far post causing Daniels in goal to take a touch. Nelson brings down and puts ball back into danger zone but asa Holt looks to connect he catches a defender an a free-kick is given.
24th: Rovers corner. McClaren takes short and puts in another cross but Nelson heads clear.
22nd: Holt escapes into area and rounds the 'keeper he looks to have scored but a great clearance by Goodison clears danger for Tranmere.
21st: Combination of Hoolahan, Holt and Elliott gives the on-loan striker an opportunity to shoot which he does but it's wide of far post.
20th: 'Underhit backpass as predicted' - camberwick_g
17th: Good ball in from the left by Drury to edge of box but Holt in space can't connect and it goes out to touch.
14th: Tranmere attack down the right and a good ball in causes uncertainty in the City box but the danger is eventually cleared.
11th: Declan Rudd replaces Lappin. But the youngster can't prevent Tranmere extending their lead - Thomas-Moore again this time converts from the spot high into the back of the net.
10th: Forster sent off after bringing down Thomas-Moore - another penalty! A weak pass by Doherty gathered by Thomas-Moore and as he rounds Forster he goes down.
9th: Hoolahan finds R. Martin on the overlap and he puts a good ball in but Holt can't quite catch as he rises to head it.
6th: Tranmere go ahead - Thomas-Moore steps up and slots home the penalty - Forster went right way but it was well-placed in the corner.
5th: Corner comes in from McClaren and after a bit of a scramble a penalty is given after the linesman flags - a flick from Gordon adjudged to have been handled. Russell Martin is booked after some confusion.
4th: Curran deflected shot goes out for corner.
3rd: Hughes with challenge on Welsh about 25-yards out, free-kick to Tranmere. Three people stand over it and McClaren takes but it's easily cleared.
2nd: Good move by the Canaries, Russell puts a ball across the box but it's too high and strong and goes out to touch far side. Good start.
We're off! Hoolahan and Russell kick the game off.
The Canaries will kick off with our fans behind them.
The teams now enter from the tunnel - ticker-tape welcome from the City faithful.
A bright but breezy evening on the Wirral this evening. A hardy and vocal bunch of Canary fans have made it to Prenton Park and are housed in the Cowshed Stand to our left behind the goal. We await the teams.
Team News:
Stephen Hughes finds himself in the starting line-up replacing Korey Smith who looks not to have recovered from the dead leg he picked up in last Saturday's 1-0 win over Leeds.
Stephen Elliott keeps his place partnering Grant Holt up-front with Leeds goalscorer Chris Martin on the bench.
CITY: Forster, Drury, Nelson, R. Martin, Hughes (McNamee 75), Holt (c), Elliott (C. Martin 46), Doherty, Hoolahan, Lappin (Rudd 11), Russell. Subs not used: Gill, Rose, Whitbread, Johnson.
TRANMERE: Daniels, Goodison, McClaren (Labadie 79), Broomes, Thomas-Moore (c), Welsh, Taylor, Gornell, McCready, Curran, Gordon. Subs not used: Edds, Savage, Collister, Shuker, Bakayogo, Sordell.
