CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe said he had not changed his opinion following the introduction of the video assistant referee system.

Howe, speaking ahead of the scheme being used for the first time earlier this month, said he needed to be convinced it would work and would not “ruin the game as we know it”.

Although controversy surrounded Glenn Murray’s winner for Brighton against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup, a VAR review was not initiated by match referee Andre Marriner in the first competitive game in England to have the technology available.

However, it did come into play during Leicester’s third round replay victory over Fleetwood on Tuesday when the second of Kelechi Iheanacho’s two goals became the first to be awarded by VAR in UK football.

Iheanacho lofted the ball over Fleetwood goalkeeper Chris Neal but was initially denied by an offside flag.

But referee Jon Moss consulted technology and subsequently awarded the goal, with the decision taking around 70 seconds to be confirmed.

Antonio Conte said the system had let down Chelsea after Willian's penalty appeal had been rejected during their FA Cup win over Norwich on Wednesday, with Alan Shearer describing it as a "shambles".

Discussing it further earlier this week, Howe said he had “not seen too much of it” before adding he had not “changed my opinion”.

He added: “I think there will be some really good moments for it. It will be game-defining and some decisions will be absolutely spot on.

“I also think there will be some that, even after replay after replay, you won’t be able to find out what the correct decision should have been.

“There will be teething problems.”