Sean Dyche has become the second manager in quick succession to complain about the way Manchester City are being officiated, following their weekend win over Nottingham Forest.
Sean Dyche believes Manchester City should have been shown a red card and should have had their winning goal ruled out in their 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Dyche began by emphasising the role the officiating had played in the eventual result, saying: “Unfortunately, the officials played a huge part in the game today.
“It’s very unfortunate, but we don’t want that. I’m scratching my head as I’ve looked back and can’t believe some of the incidents. I can’t believe what I’m watching.”
Right before City’s winner, Morgan Gibbs-White had been hauled to the ground by Nico O’Reilly, and Gibbs-White was then the closest player to blocking Rayan Cherki’s shot a moment later.
“It’s clear as day that Morgan Gibbs-White is pushed to the floor, and then the same player tries to get up to block it, and it goes through his body because he can’t get into a position to block it,” Dyche pointed out.
“For me, that’s an unacceptable performance. Sometimes, the officials have got to come out – the powers that be – and say they were miles off.”
Even before that, Ruben Dias got away with one when he brought down Igor Jesus on a yellow card and somehow avoided picking up a second.
“They say it’s an accident,” Dyche said of the incident. “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?
“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.”
Just last week, Brentford boss Keith Andrews complained that City should have been shown a red card for a DOGSO foul on Kevin Schade, saying: “It’s one I feel that they didn’t get right, tonight.
“And the explanation around the touch being too far away from goal doesn’t quite sit well with me after watching it back, because he’s clean through on goal.”
A week later, another manager is making the same complaint about the way the same team are being officiated. From an Arsenal perspective, we can only hope those wrong decisions start to even themselves out soon.