Manager Dyche left 'stunned' over 'bizarre' VAR decisions in straightforward match
The manager said it was a 'bad day at the office' for the referees
Forest's head coach Sean Dyche was critical of the officials over several "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 ought to have been ruled out for a foul on Morgan Gibbs-White in the build-up.
He additionally argued that referee Rob Jones should 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 stated.
"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."
Should Cherki's winner have been ruled out?
Sean Dyche has won four of his nine Premier League games in charge of Nottingham Forest
Sitting just outside the bottom three, a point against an in-form City side would have moved Forest a more comfortable six points ahead from the relegation places.
But Cherki crushed their hopes as he drilled in a half-volley, blasting 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 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 explained.
"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 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?'.
"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."
The Forest player protested to the referee, insisting he was fouled prior to the winning strike
Ought Dias have been sent off?
Dyche was further angered about Jones' decision not to send Dias off.
The center-back received a first yellow card for dissent in the first half, complaining 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 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 said.
"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 ignored calls by Igor Jesus and other Forest players to show Dias a second booking.
