Dyche 'stunned' by 'bizarre' VAR calls in 'easy' game to officiate
Dyche described it as a 'bad day at the office' for the officials
Forest's manager Sean Dyche voiced his anger at the officials over some "perplexing" decisions in his side's heartbreaking 2-1 loss by City.
Dyche was convinced that Rayan Cherki's 83rd-minute winner at the City Ground deserved to be ruled out for a foul on Morgan Gibbs-White prior to the shot.
He further contended that referee Rob Jones should have shown City defender Ruben Dias a second yellow card 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 remarked.
"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."
Was Cherki's winning goal legitimate?
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 six points clear from the relegation places.
But Cherki crushed their hopes as he drilled in a half-volley, blasting the ball from the edge of the box past Gibbs-White.
Forest players were quick to complain to referee Jones, claiming that Gibbs-White had been fouled by Nico O'Reilly and prevented from blocking Cherki's strike.
"Morgan Gibbs-White quite clearly gets pushed to the floor and the same player is involved in blocking the ball," Dyche said.
"However, he's unable to make the block because the ball travels through the space his body would have occupied. From any angle, it's a foul."
The VAR examined the play, but ultimately allowed 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."
The Forest player protested to the referee, insisting he was fouled prior to the winning strike
Should Dias have seen red?
Dyche was equally incensed about Jones' decision not to send Dias off.
The Portugal defender received a initial caution for dissent in the first half, arguing about a decision against him after his challenge on Igor Jesus.
Early in the second period, Dias fouled Igor Jesus again as the Forest forward was driving forward.
"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 awarded Forest a free-kick but overlooked pleas by Igor Jesus and other Forest players to show Dias a second yellow card.
