Dyche 'stunned' by 'bizarre' VAR calls in 'easy' game to officiate

Forest's head coach Sean Dyche was critical of the officials over some "strange" decisions in his side's heartbreaking 2-1 loss by City.

Dyche was convinced that Rayan Cherki's late winner at the City Ground deserved to be ruled out for a push on Morgan Gibbs-White prior to the shot.

He also thought that referee Rob Jones ought to have shown City defender Ruben Dias a dismissal 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 said.

"When you played so well, to come in and have to talk about officials affecting the game - but they clearly did.

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

Ought the late winner have been disallowed?

Positioned precariously above the drop zone, a point against an in-form City side would have moved Forest six points clear from the relegation places.

But Cherki crushed their hopes as he fired in a half-volley, blasting the ball from the edge of the box through the legs of Gibbs-White.

Forest players were instantly remonstrated to referee Jones, arguing that Gibbs-White had been pushed to the ground 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.

"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 reviewed the incident, but decided to stick with Jones' on-field decision to stand.

Dyche continued: "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?'.

"It's universally understood to be a foul. I am perplexed. To then concede from that sequence is a real double blow.

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

Should Dias have seen red?

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

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

Straight after the restart, Dias tripped 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 asked.

"I just find it bizarre, I really do. And I think these are easy things. Just give him a second yellow, that's it. 'Off you go'. I'm absolutely stunned."

Jones awarded Forest a free-kick but ignored calls by Igor Jesus and other Forest players to show Dias a dismissal.