'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 manager Sean Dyche expressed frustration with the officials over a series of "bizarre" decisions in his side's narrow last-gasp 2-1 loss by City.
The manager believed Rayan Cherki's late 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 ought to 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.
"To have played so superbly and then be forced to address how the referees impacted the match is galling, but their effect was obvious.
"It was plain for all in attendance and all television audiences to see."
Should Cherki's winner have been ruled out?
Dyche has secured four victories from nine league matches since taking over at Forest
Positioned precariously above the drop zone, a point against an dominant City side would have moved Forest further away from the relegation places.
But Cherki crushed their hopes as he fired in a half-volley, drilling the ball from the edge of the box beyond Gibbs-White.
Forest players were quick to complain to referee Jones, claiming that Gibbs-White had been knocked over 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 explained.
"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 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?'.
"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
Ought Dias have been sent off?
Dyche was equally incensed about Jones' decision not to send Dias off.
The experienced defender received a initial caution for dissent in the first half, protesting about a decision against him after his challenge on Igor Jesus.
Straight after the restart, Dias fouled 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.
"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 yellow card.
