Dyche 'stunned' by 'bizarre' VAR calls in 'easy' game to officiate
It was a 'bad day at the office' for match officials - Dyche
Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche was critical of the officials over some "bizarre" decisions in his side's late 2-1 defeat by Manchester City.
Dyche felt Rayan Cherki's 83rd-minute winner at the City Ground deserved to be ruled out for a foul on Morgan Gibbs-White in the build-up.
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.
"To have played so superbly and then be forced to address how the referees impacted the match is galling, but their effect was obvious.
"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
Sitting just outside the bottom three, a point against an in-form City side would have moved Forest a more comfortable six points ahead 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 past Gibbs-White.
Forest players were instantly remonstrated to referee Jones, contending that Gibbs-White had been fouled 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 commented.
"He is prevented from blocking as the ball passes through where he would have been. No matter the perspective, it's an infringement."
The VAR checked the goal, 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 fully endorse VAR technology - I am at a loss to explain how such a clear error was made."
The Forest player protested to the referee, insisting he was fouled prior to the winning strike
Should Dias have seen red?
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, arguing about a decision against him following his challenge on Igor Jesus.
Straight after the restart, Dias fouled Igor Jesus again as the Forest forward was breaking upfield.
"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.
"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 gave Forest a free-kick but overlooked pleas by Igor Jesus and other Forest players to show Dias a dismissal.
