'Such an easy game to ref' - Dyche 'stunned' by 'bizarre' VAR calls
It was a 'bad day at the office' for match officials - Dyche
Forest's manager Sean Dyche was critical of the officials over several "bizarre" decisions in his side's narrow last-gasp 2-1 loss by Manchester City.
Dyche felt Rayan Cherki's 83rd-minute winner at the City Ground deserved to be ruled out for a push 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.
"It was, to my mind, an incredibly easy match to ref and a clear-cut decision for the video assistant," Dyche said.
"After performing so admirably, to have to discuss match officials influencing the result is frustrating - yet they undeniably did.
"It was plain for all in attendance and all television audiences to see."
Ought the late winner have been disallowed?
Dyche has secured four victories from nine league matches since taking over at Forest
Hovering just above the relegation zone, 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 drilled in a half-volley, striking the ball from the edge of the box past 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 unable to blocking Cherki's strike.
"There's a clear push on Morgan Gibbs-White, and the identical player then becomes an obstruction," Dyche said.
"But he can't block it because as he jumps up, it goes through the bit of his body which he would have blocked it with. Whichever way you look at it it's a foul."
The VAR examined the play, 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?'.
"Everyone knows it would be. I am baffled. And then they go and score from the situation, which compounds the error.
"I am a strong supporter of VAR - I cannot comprehend how they missed that."
Gibbs-White complained to referee Jones that he had been fouled in the build-up to City's late goal
Should Dias have seen red?
Dyche was also unhappy about Jones' decision not to send Dias off.
The Portugal defender received a booking 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 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 awarded Forest a free-kick but disregarded appeals by Igor Jesus and other Forest players to show Dias a second booking.
