Manager Dyche left 'stunned' over 'bizarre' VAR decisions in straightforward match
It was a 'bad day at the office' for match officials - Dyche
Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche voiced his anger at the officials over a series of "bizarre" decisions in his side's heartbreaking 2-1 loss by Manchester City.
Dyche was convinced that Rayan Cherki's late 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 second yellow card 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 stated.
"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?
Sean Dyche has won four of his nine Premier League games in charge of Nottingham Forest
Hovering just above the relegation zone, a point against an dominant 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 through the legs of Gibbs-White.
Forest players were instantly remonstrated 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.
"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 checked the goal, but ultimately allowed 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?'.
"We all know it is. I can't work it out. And then they score from it, which is the double whammy.
"I'm a big fan of VAR - I can't work out how you can't get that right."
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 further angered about Jones' decision not to send Dias off.
The center-back 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 brought down Igor Jesus again as the Forest forward was driving forward.
"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 said.
"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 overlooked pleas by Igor Jesus and other Forest players to show Dias a second yellow card.
