'Such an easy game to ref' - Dyche 'stunned' by 'bizarre' VAR calls
It was a 'bad day at the office' for match officials - Dyche
Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche expressed frustration with the officials over some "perplexing" decisions in his side's narrow last-gasp 2-1 loss by City.
Dyche was convinced that Rayan Cherki's late winner at the City Ground deserved to be ruled out for a push on Morgan Gibbs-White prior to the shot.
He further contended that referee Rob Jones ought to have shown City defender Ruben Dias a dismissal in the second half.
"In my view, it was such a simple game to officiate, a very straightforward call for VAR," Dyche stated.
"To have played so superbly and then be forced to address how the referees impacted the match is galling, but their effect was obvious.
"Everyone in the stadium and everyone watching at home could see that."
Ought the late winner have been disallowed?
Sean Dyche has won four of his nine Premier League games in charge of Nottingham Forest
Sitting just outside the bottom three, a point against an high-flying City side would have moved Forest a more comfortable six points ahead from the relegation places.
But Cherki crushed their hopes as he fired in a half-volley, blasting the ball from the edge of the box past Gibbs-White.
Forest players were immediately protested to referee Jones, contending that Gibbs-White had been pushed to the ground by Nico O'Reilly and stopped from blocking Cherki's strike.
"Morgan Gibbs-White is obviously shoved to the ground, and that very player then impedes the shot," 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 continued: "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?'.
"It's universally understood to be a foul. I am perplexed. To then concede from that sequence is a real double blow.
"I am a strong supporter of VAR - I cannot comprehend how they missed that."
Gibbs-White remonstrated with official Jones, claiming a foul before the decisive goal
Ought Dias have been sent off?
Dyche was equally incensed about Jones' decision not to send Dias off.
The experienced defender received a initial caution for dissent in the first half, protesting about a decision against him after his challenge on Igor Jesus.
Straight after the restart, 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.
"I just find it bizarre, I really do. And I think these are easy things. Just give him a second yellow, that's it. 'Off you go'. I'm absolutely stunned."
Jones gave Forest a free-kick but disregarded appeals by Igor Jesus and other Forest players to show Dias a second booking.