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

Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche voiced his anger at the officials over some "bizarre" decisions in his side's heartbreaking 2-1 loss by City.

The manager believed Rayan Cherki's 83rd-minute winner at the City Ground deserved to be ruled out for a push on Morgan Gibbs-White prior to the shot.

He additionally argued that referee Rob Jones ought to have shown City defender Ruben Dias a second yellow card 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 remarked.

"After performing so admirably, to have to discuss match officials influencing the result is frustrating - yet they undeniably did.

"It was plain for all in attendance and all television audiences to see."

Ought the late winner have been disallowed?

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 dashed their dreams 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 instantly remonstrated to referee Jones, contending that Gibbs-White had been pushed to the ground by Nico O'Reilly and stopped 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.

"But he can't block it because as he jumps up, it goes through the bit of his body which he would have blocked it with. Whichever way you look at it it's a foul."

The VAR reviewed the incident, but ultimately allowed Jones' on-field decision to stand.

Dyche added: "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?'.

"Everyone knows it would be. I am baffled. And then they go and score from the situation, which compounds the error.

"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 also unhappy about Jones' decision not to send Dias off.

The center-back received a booking for dissent in the first half, arguing about a decision against him following his challenge on Igor Jesus.

Early in the second period, Dias tripped Igor Jesus again as the Forest forward was driving forward.

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