🔗 Share this article Manager Dyche left 'stunned' over 'bizarre' VAR decisions in straightforward match It was a 'bad day at the office' for match officials - Dyche Nottingham Forest head coach Sean Dyche voiced his anger at the officials over a series of "strange" decisions in his side's heartbreaking 2-1 loss by Manchester City. Dyche was convinced that Rayan Cherki's 83rd-minute winner at the City Ground ought to have been ruled out for a infringement on Morgan Gibbs-White in the build-up. He also thought that referee Rob Jones ought to have shown City defender Ruben Dias a second caution in the second half. "Such an easy game to referee, in my opinion, such an easy decision for VAR [video assistant referee]," Dyche stated. "After performing so admirably, to have to discuss match officials influencing the result is frustrating - yet they undeniably did. "Every supporter in the ground and every viewer at home witnessed it." Should Cherki's winner have been ruled out? Dyche has secured four victories from nine league matches since taking over at Forest Positioned precariously above the drop zone, a point against an in-form City side would have moved Forest further away from the relegation places. But Cherki crushed their hopes as he fired in a half-volley, drilling 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 knocked over by Nico O'Reilly and prevented from blocking Cherki's strike. "There's a clear push on Morgan Gibbs-White, and the identical player then becomes an obstruction," Dyche explained. "However, he's unable to make the block because the ball travels through the space his body would have occupied. From any angle, it's a foul." 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." Gibbs-White complained to referee Jones that he had been fouled in the build-up to City's late goal Was Dias fortunate to avoid a second yellow? Dyche was also unhappy about Jones' decision not to send Dias off. The center-back received a initial caution for dissent in the first half, protesting about a decision against him following his challenge on Igor Jesus. Immediately after halftime, Dias fouled Igor Jesus again as the Forest forward was advancing with the ball. "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 said. "I find it utterly strange, truly. These are simple decisions. Show the second yellow, job done. 'You're off'. I am completely astonished." Jones awarded Forest a free-kick but ignored calls by Igor Jesus and other Forest players to show Dias a dismissal.