‘I cannot fathom VAR’ – Sean Dyche rages in furious post-match interview after Nottingham Forest defeat

Sean Dyche furiously took aim at the match officials following the 2-1 defeat for his Nottingham Forest side against Manchester City.

A late Rayan Cherki winner handed all three points to the visitors at the City Ground despite an impressive performance from the hosts.

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Forest man Morgan Gibbs-White appeared to be pushed to the ground moments before Cherki fired his effort into the back of the net.

However, with no intervention from referee Robert Jones or VAR, the City goal was allowed to stand.

The decision prompted an angered post-match interview from Dyche, who criticised the officials for their impact on the result.

Dyche: Big clubs get those decisions

“Very disappointing, very frustrating, actually,” he said to talkSPORT. “More frustrated by the officials’ performance today.

“As managers, we try not to mention it but it had such an impact on the game today, because the players have given a real shift. Tactically, the energy and the commitment to the cause, but also some of the quality today when we can play.

“It’s hard against these sides, Man City keep the ball and they probe, and they work, and I think you’ve got to find your chances when you can. I think in the first half, we had the best chance of the game.

“I think our ‘keeper hadn’t done anything in that period. And then the second half, they had a couple of chances but we find a fine goal to get back in it.

“Then they score from a… I’d love to think that you get parity, but I said to the fourth [official, Gavin Ward] all the way through the game, ‘As long as we get parity, no problem.’

“But guess what, Morgan Gibbs-White is clearly pushed to the floor. VAR apparently, I don’t know, whether they don’t see it or whatever they’ve given it for, I’ve already asked for the report because I cannot fathom VAR at the minute, I’m sure lots of us can’t.

“It’s clearly obvious Morgan Gibbs-White gets pushed to the floor for no reason at all.

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“So now [if] that’s a ‘keeper, do you think they give a foul? Of course they give a foul, so why isn’t it given as a foul?

“Then they score, another big one for them in the title race, but hard on us, it always seems that the big clubs get those decisions.”

Dyche was then asked about how Murillo had his shirt ripped during the build-up to the winner, and expressed further frustration.

“Even earlier in the game, the centre-half boots the ball away and then dives on the floor. Like, there’s nothing wrong with him and the referee’s right there, does nothing about it.

“And then the same player, second half, we break the back line, Igor goes through and he clips him. And then they say it’s an accident, you go, ‘Well, what happens in the box then?

“Do you book him and they get a penalty, or not? Of course they do, so you go, ‘So, why ain’t that a penalty then?’

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“I just thought it was bizarre today, and it’s such an easy game to referee, there’s no nastiness, technical fouls everywhere but the referee did nothing about it. So, I just can’t work it out at the minute.

“I said to the fourth (official) very early, I said, ‘OK, no problem, if they’re going to let the centre-halves drag all over Igor up front,’ which they did, of course, I said, ‘That’s fine, as long as we get decisions.’

“Sure enough, when a big decision comes, we don’t get the decision. I would strongly suggest if the shoe is on the other foot, they would get that decision.”

City scored first through Tijjani Reijnders early on in the second half before Omari Hutchinson levelled moments later.

Cherki, who assisted Reijnders, then found the winner on 83 minutes to give City a sixth consecutive Premier League win.

It has kept them within reach of leaders Arsenal as they approach the halfway point of the season.