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

Forest's manager Sean Dyche expressed frustration with the officials over a series of "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 push on Morgan Gibbs-White in the build-up.

He further contended 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 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?

Sitting just outside the bottom three, a point against an in-form 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 through the legs of Gibbs-White.

Forest players were immediately protested to referee Jones, claiming that Gibbs-White had been pushed to the ground by Nico O'Reilly and unable to blocking Cherki's strike.

"Morgan Gibbs-White is obviously shoved to the ground, and that very player then impedes the shot," 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 examined the play, but decided to stick with Jones' on-field decision to stand.

Dyche went on: "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 fully endorse VAR technology - I am at a loss to explain how such a clear error was made."

Should Dias have seen red?

Dyche was equally incensed about Jones' decision not to send Dias off.

The Portugal defender received a initial caution for dissent in the first half, arguing 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 breaking upfield.

"It's deemed unintentional. Yet an accidental foul denying a clear chance is a red. So why is this different and not a second yellow?" Dyche questioned.

"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 ignored calls by Igor Jesus and other Forest players to show Dias a second yellow card.