'Such an easy game to ref' - Dyche 'stunned' by 'bizarre' VAR calls
The manager said it was a 'bad day at the office' for the referees
Nottingham Forest head coach Sean Dyche voiced his anger at the officials over several "strange" decisions in his side's late 2-1 defeat by City.
Dyche was convinced that Rayan Cherki's 83rd-minute winner at the City Ground ought to have been ruled out for a foul on Morgan Gibbs-White prior to the shot.
He additionally argued that referee Rob Jones should have shown City defender Ruben Dias a dismissal in the second half.
"Such an easy game to referee, in my opinion, such an easy decision for VAR [video assistant referee]," 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.
"Every supporter in the ground and every viewer at home witnessed it."
Ought the late winner have been disallowed?
The Forest boss has claimed four wins in his nine top-flight games at the helm
Positioned precariously above the drop zone, a point against an in-form City side would have moved Forest further away from the relegation places.
But Cherki dashed their dreams 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 fouled by Nico O'Reilly and stopped from blocking Cherki's strike.
"There's a clear push on Morgan Gibbs-White, and the identical player then becomes an obstruction," 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 ultimately allowed Jones' on-field decision to stand.
Dyche added: "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?'.
"Everyone knows it would be. I am baffled. And then they go and score from the situation, which compounds the error.
"I fully endorse VAR technology - I am at a loss to explain how such a clear error was made."
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 equally incensed about Jones' decision not to send Dias off.
The center-back received a first yellow card for dissent in the first half, arguing about a decision against him following his challenge on Igor Jesus.
Early in the second period, Dias fouled 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 dismissal.
