Manager Dyche left 'stunned' over 'bizarre' VAR decisions in straightforward match

Forest's manager Sean Dyche was critical of the officials over some "perplexing" decisions in his side's heartbreaking 2-1 loss by 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 prior to the shot.

He also thought that referee Rob Jones ought to have shown City defender Ruben Dias a second yellow card in the second half.

"In my view, it was such a simple game to officiate, a very straightforward call for VAR," 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.

"Everyone in the stadium and everyone watching at home could see that."

Was Cherki's winning goal legitimate?

Positioned precariously above the drop zone, a point against an dominant City side would have moved Forest further away from the relegation places.

But Cherki shattered their aspirations as he slammed home 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 knocked over 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 explained.

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

Ought Dias have been sent off?

Dyche was further angered about Jones' decision not to send Dias off.

The Portugal defender received a initial caution for dissent in the first half, protesting about a decision against him after his challenge on Igor Jesus.

Early in the second period, Dias fouled 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 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 awarded Forest a free-kick but disregarded appeals by Igor Jesus and other Forest players to show Dias a second yellow card.