Dyche 'stunned' by 'bizarre' VAR calls in 'easy' game to officiate
The manager said it was a 'bad day at the office' for the referees
Nottingham Forest head coach Sean Dyche was critical of the officials over some "bizarre" decisions in his side's narrow last-gasp 2-1 loss by City.
Dyche felt Rayan Cherki's 83rd-minute winner at the City Ground ought to have been ruled out for a infringement on Morgan Gibbs-White in the build-up.
He additionally argued that referee Rob Jones should have shown City defender Ruben Dias a second caution in the second half.
"It was, to my mind, an incredibly easy match to ref and a clear-cut decision for the video assistant," Dyche said.
"After performing so admirably, to have to discuss match officials influencing the result is frustrating - yet they undeniably did.
"Everyone in the stadium and everyone watching at home could see that."
Should Cherki's winner have been ruled out?
Dyche has secured four victories from nine league matches since taking over at Forest
Hovering just above the relegation zone, a point against an dominant City side would have moved Forest six points clear from the relegation places.
But Cherki shattered their aspirations as he drilled in a half-volley, blasting the ball from the edge of the box beyond Gibbs-White.
Forest players were quick to complain to referee Jones, claiming that Gibbs-White had been fouled by Nico O'Reilly and stopped from blocking Cherki's strike.
"There's a clear push on Morgan Gibbs-White, and the identical player then becomes an obstruction," Dyche commented.
"But he can't block it because as he jumps up, it goes through the bit of his body which he would have blocked it with. Whichever way you look at it it's a foul."
The VAR reviewed the incident, but decided to stick with Jones' on-field decision to stand.
Dyche added: "They'll say, 'Yeah, the ball wasn't there'. And you go, 'OK, so if the ball's not near the keeper and you push the keeper to the floor, is that going to be a foul then?'.
"Everyone knows it would be. I am baffled. And then they go and score from the situation, which compounds the error.
"I fully endorse VAR technology - I am at a loss to explain how such a clear error was made."
Gibbs-White complained to referee Jones that he had been fouled in the build-up to City's late goal
Should Dias have seen red?
Dyche was equally incensed about Jones' decision not to send Dias off.
The experienced defender received a first yellow card for dissent in the first half, protesting about a decision against him following his challenge on Igor Jesus.
Early in the second period, Dias brought down Igor Jesus again as the Forest forward was breaking upfield.
"It's deemed unintentional. Yet an accidental foul denying a clear chance is a red. So why is this different and not a second yellow?" Dyche said.
"I find it utterly strange, truly. These are simple decisions. Show the second yellow, job done. 'You're off'. I am completely astonished."
Jones gave Forest a free-kick but overlooked pleas by Igor Jesus and other Forest players to show Dias a second yellow card.
