'Such an easy game to ref' - Dyche 'stunned' by 'bizarre' VAR calls
The manager said it was a 'bad day at the office' for the referees
Forest's head coach Sean Dyche voiced his anger at 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 83rd-minute winner at the City Ground ought to have been ruled out for a push on Morgan Gibbs-White during the attacking phase.
He further contended that referee Rob Jones should have shown City defender Ruben Dias a dismissal 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 said.
"When you played so well, to come in and have to talk about officials affecting the game - but they clearly did.
"Every supporter in the ground and every viewer at home witnessed it."
Was Cherki's winning goal legitimate?
The Forest boss has claimed four wins in his nine top-flight games at the helm
Hovering just above the relegation zone, a point against an dominant City side would have moved Forest six points clear 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 through the legs of 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 commented.
"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 reviewed the incident, but decided to stick with Jones' on-field decision to stand.
Dyche continued: "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?'.
"It's universally understood to be a foul. I am perplexed. To then concede from that sequence is a real double blow.
"I fully endorse VAR technology - I am at a loss to explain how such a clear error was made."
Gibbs-White complained to referee Jones that he had been fouled in the build-up to City's late goal
Ought Dias have been sent off?
Dyche was equally incensed about Jones' decision not to send Dias off.
The center-back received a first yellow card for dissent in the first half, protesting about a decision against him after his challenge on Igor Jesus.
Immediately after halftime, Dias brought down 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 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 overlooked pleas by Igor Jesus and other Forest players to show Dias a second booking.
