Dyche 'stunned' by 'bizarre' VAR calls in 'easy' game to officiate

Nottingham Forest head coach Sean Dyche expressed frustration with the officials over a series of "perplexing" decisions in his side's narrow last-gasp 2-1 loss by City.

Dyche was convinced that Rayan Cherki's 83rd-minute winner at the City Ground should have been ruled out for a foul on Morgan Gibbs-White prior to the shot.

He also thought that referee Rob Jones should have shown City defender Ruben Dias a dismissal in the second half.

"Such an easy game to referee, in my opinion, such an easy decision for VAR [video assistant referee]," 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."

Was Cherki's winning goal legitimate?

Hovering just above the relegation zone, a point against an high-flying City side would have moved Forest a more comfortable six points ahead 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 immediately protested to referee Jones, claiming that Gibbs-White had been knocked over by Nico O'Reilly and unable to 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.

"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 examined the play, but decided to stick with Jones' on-field decision to stand.

Dyche continued: "The likely explanation is, 'The ball wasn't in the vicinity'. To which you respond, 'So if a goalkeeper is fouled away from the play, is that acceptable?'.

"We all know it is. I can't work it out. And then they score from it, which is the double whammy.

"I fully endorse VAR technology - I am at a loss to explain how such a clear error was made."

Should Dias have seen red?

Dyche was also unhappy 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.

Straight after the restart, Dias tripped Igor Jesus again as the Forest forward was driving forward.

"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 said.

"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 ignored calls by Igor Jesus and other Forest players to show Dias a dismissal.