'Such an easy game to ref' - Dyche 'stunned' by 'bizarre' VAR calls

Forest's head coach Sean Dyche was critical of the officials over several "perplexing" decisions in his side's late 2-1 defeat by Manchester City.

Dyche felt Rayan Cherki's 83rd-minute winner at the City Ground should have been ruled out for a infringement on Morgan Gibbs-White during the attacking phase.

He also thought 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 stated.

"After performing so admirably, to have to discuss match officials influencing the result is frustrating - yet they undeniably did.

"Every supporter in the ground and every viewer at home witnessed it."

Ought the late winner have been disallowed?

Sitting just outside the bottom three, 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, blasting the ball from the edge of the box past Gibbs-White.

Forest players were quick to complain to referee Jones, contending that Gibbs-White had been pushed to the ground 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.

"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 checked the goal, 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?'.

"It's universally understood to be a foul. I am perplexed. To then concede from that sequence is a real double blow.

"I'm a big fan of VAR - I can't work out how you can't get that right."

Was Dias fortunate to avoid a second yellow?

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, complaining about a decision against him following his challenge on Igor Jesus.

Early in the second period, Dias tripped Igor Jesus again as the Forest forward was breaking upfield.

"The argument is it was accidental. But if that's an accidental foul when through on goal, it's a sending-off. So how can it be accidental yet not warrant a booking?" Dyche asked.

"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 awarded Forest a free-kick but disregarded appeals by Igor Jesus and other Forest players to show Dias a second yellow card.