'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 head coach Sean Dyche expressed frustration with the officials over some "strange" decisions in his side's late 2-1 defeat by Manchester City.
Dyche felt Rayan Cherki's late winner at the City Ground should have been ruled out for a infringement on Morgan Gibbs-White prior to the shot.
He additionally argued that referee Rob Jones ought to have shown City defender Ruben Dias a second caution in the second half.
"In my view, it was such a simple game to officiate, a very straightforward call for VAR," 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?
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 a more comfortable six points ahead from the relegation places.
But Cherki crushed their hopes as he slammed home a half-volley, striking 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.
"There's a clear push on Morgan Gibbs-White, and the identical player then becomes an obstruction," 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 reviewed the incident, but in the end upheld Jones' on-field decision to stand.
Dyche added: "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?'.
"Everyone knows it would be. I am baffled. And then they go and score from the situation, which compounds the error.
"I'm a big fan of VAR - I can't work out how you can't get that right."
Gibbs-White remonstrated with official Jones, claiming a foul before the decisive goal
Should Dias have seen red?
Dyche was also unhappy 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.
Straight after the restart, Dias tripped 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 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 disregarded appeals by Igor Jesus and other Forest players to show Dias a second yellow card.
