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

Forest's head coach Sean Dyche expressed frustration with the officials over a series of "perplexing" decisions in his side's heartbreaking 2-1 loss by City.

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

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 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?

Sitting just outside the bottom three, a point against an dominant City side would have moved Forest six points clear from the relegation places.

But Cherki crushed their hopes as he drilled in a half-volley, striking 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 knocked over 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 said.

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

Dyche added: "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?'.

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

"I am a strong supporter of VAR - I cannot comprehend how they missed that."

Was Dias fortunate to avoid a second yellow?

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

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

Immediately after halftime, Dias tripped Igor Jesus again as the Forest forward was advancing with the ball.

"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 overlooked pleas by Igor Jesus and other Forest players to show Dias a dismissal.