It was a 'bad day at the office' for match officials - Dyche
Forest's 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 City.
Dyche was convinced that Rayan Cherki's late winner at the City Ground ought to have been ruled out for a infringement 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.
"Such an easy game to referee, in my opinion, such an easy decision for VAR [video assistant referee]," Dyche stated.
"When you played so well, to come in and have to talk about officials affecting the game - but they clearly 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 six points clear from the relegation places.
But Cherki crushed their hopes as he drilled 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, claiming that Gibbs-White had been pushed to the ground by Nico O'Reilly and stopped from blocking Cherki's strike.
"There's a clear push on Morgan Gibbs-White, and the identical player then becomes an obstruction," 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 checked the goal, but in the end upheld Jones' on-field decision to stand.
Dyche continued: "The likely explanation is, 'The ball wasn't in the vicinity'. To which you respond, 'So if a goalkeeper is fouled away from the play, is that acceptable?'.
"We all know it is. I can't work it out. And then they score from it, which is the double whammy.
"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
Was Dias fortunate to avoid a second yellow?
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, protesting 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 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 said.
"I just find it bizarre, I really do. And I think these are easy things. Just give him a second yellow, that's it. 'Off you go'. I'm absolutely stunned."
Jones awarded Forest a free-kick but disregarded appeals by Igor Jesus and other Forest players to show Dias a second booking.