Dyche 'stunned' by 'bizarre' VAR calls in 'easy' game to officiate
Dyche described it as a 'bad day at the office' for the officials
Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche voiced his anger at the officials over several "bizarre" decisions in his side's late 2-1 defeat by City.
Dyche felt Rayan Cherki's 83rd-minute winner at the City Ground deserved to be ruled out for a infringement on Morgan Gibbs-White during the attacking phase.
He additionally argued that referee Rob Jones should 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 remarked.
"When you played so well, to come in and have to talk about officials affecting the game - but they clearly did.
"It was plain for all in attendance and all television audiences to see."
Ought the late winner have been disallowed?
The Forest boss has claimed four wins in his nine top-flight games at the helm
Sitting just outside the bottom three, 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 fired in a half-volley, blasting the ball from the edge of the box beyond 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 prevented from blocking Cherki's strike.
"Morgan Gibbs-White is obviously shoved to the ground, and that very player then impedes the shot," Dyche said.
"He is prevented from blocking as the ball passes through where he would have been. No matter the perspective, it's an infringement."
The VAR checked the goal, but in the end upheld 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?'.
"We all know it is. I can't work it out. And then they score from it, which is the double whammy.
"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
Should Dias have seen red?
Dyche was equally incensed about Jones' decision not to send Dias off.
The experienced defender received a booking for dissent in the first half, arguing about a decision against him following his challenge on Igor Jesus.
Immediately after halftime, Dias brought down Igor Jesus again as the Forest forward was breaking upfield.
"They say it's an accident. If that's an accident when he's running through on goal we all know what happens. You get a red card. So why is it an accident and he isn't yellow carded then?" Dyche questioned.
"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 awarded Forest a free-kick but ignored calls by Igor Jesus and other Forest players to show Dias a second booking.