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Forest's 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 was convinced that Rayan Cherki's late winner at the City Ground deserved to be ruled out for a push on Morgan Gibbs-White in the build-up.

He further contended 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 remarked.

"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?

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 past Gibbs-White.

Forest players were immediately protested to referee Jones, arguing that Gibbs-White had been fouled by Nico O'Reilly and prevented 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 said.

"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 went on: "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 fully endorse VAR technology - I am at a loss to explain how such a clear error was made."

Ought Dias have been sent off?

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

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

Early in the second period, Dias fouled Igor Jesus again as the Forest forward was driving forward.

"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 asked.

"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 overlooked pleas by Igor Jesus and other Forest players to show Dias a dismissal.