'Such an easy game to ref' - Dyche 'stunned' by 'bizarre' VAR calls

Forest's head coach Sean Dyche expressed frustration with the officials over several "bizarre" decisions in his side's late 2-1 defeat by Manchester City.

Dyche was convinced that Rayan Cherki's late winner at the City Ground should have been ruled out for a infringement on Morgan Gibbs-White in the build-up.

He also thought that referee Rob Jones should have shown City defender Ruben Dias a second caution 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.

"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."

Should Cherki's winner have been ruled out?

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

But Cherki dashed their dreams as he drilled in a half-volley, striking the ball from the edge of the box beyond Gibbs-White.

Forest players were immediately protested to referee Jones, arguing that Gibbs-White had been knocked over 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 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 in the end upheld 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."

Was Dias fortunate to avoid a second yellow?

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

The Portugal defender received a first yellow card for dissent in the first half, arguing about a decision against him following his challenge on Igor Jesus.

Early in the second period, Dias brought down Igor Jesus again as the Forest forward was breaking upfield.

"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 disregarded appeals by Igor Jesus and other Forest players to show Dias a dismissal.