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Nottingham Forest head coach Sean Dyche was critical of the officials over a series of "bizarre" decisions in his side's late 2-1 defeat by City.

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

He additionally argued that referee Rob Jones should have shown City defender Ruben Dias a dismissal in the second half.

"In my view, it was such a simple game to officiate, a very straightforward call for VAR," 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 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, blasting the ball from the edge of the box past Gibbs-White.

Forest players were immediately protested to referee Jones, arguing that Gibbs-White had been fouled 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 commented.

"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 checked the goal, but ultimately allowed Jones' on-field decision to stand.

Dyche went on: "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?'.

"We all know it is. I can't work it out. And then they score from it, which is the double whammy.

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

Was Dias fortunate to avoid a second yellow?

Dyche was equally incensed about Jones' decision not to send Dias off.

The experienced defender received a initial caution for dissent in the first half, protesting about a decision against him following his challenge on Igor Jesus.

Straight after the restart, Dias brought down Igor Jesus again as the Forest forward was breaking upfield.

"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.

"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.