Manager Dyche left 'stunned' over 'bizarre' VAR decisions in straightforward match
It was a 'bad day at the office' for match officials - Dyche
Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche expressed frustration with the officials over several "bizarre" decisions in his side's late 2-1 defeat by City.
Dyche felt Rayan Cherki's late winner at the City Ground should have been ruled out for a infringement on Morgan Gibbs-White during the attacking phase.
He also thought that referee Rob Jones ought to have shown City defender Ruben Dias a dismissal 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.
"When you played so well, to come in and have to talk about officials affecting the game - but they clearly did.
"Everyone in the stadium and everyone watching at home could see that."
Ought the late winner have been disallowed?
The Forest boss has claimed four wins in his nine top-flight games at the helm
Hovering just above the relegation zone, a point against an high-flying City side would have moved Forest further away from the relegation places.
But Cherki dashed their dreams as he slammed home a half-volley, blasting the ball from the edge of the box beyond Gibbs-White.
Forest players were instantly remonstrated to referee Jones, arguing that Gibbs-White had been fouled by Nico O'Reilly and prevented from blocking Cherki's strike.
"There's a clear push on Morgan Gibbs-White, and the identical player then becomes an obstruction," Dyche explained.
"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 checked the goal, but in the end upheld Jones' on-field decision to stand.
Dyche added: "Their defense may be, 'The ball was elsewhere'. But then you ask, 'If you foul a goalkeeper when the ball is not close, would that be given?'.
"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 remonstrated with official Jones, claiming a foul before the decisive goal
Should Dias have seen red?
Dyche was equally incensed about Jones' decision not to send Dias off.
The Portugal defender received a first yellow card for dissent in the first half, arguing about a decision against him following his challenge on Igor Jesus.
Immediately after halftime, Dias fouled 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 asked.
"It's absolutely perplexing to me. These are straightforward calls. Issue the second caution, that's all. 'Leave the pitch'. I am totally dumbfounded."
Jones gave Forest a free-kick but disregarded appeals by Igor Jesus and other Forest players to show Dias a dismissal.
