MANAGER Eddie Howe confirmed Cherries “had dialogue with the authorities” over the thought processes of VAR decisions during their 3-0 defeat at Burnley.

The Cherries boss was speaking after his side were on the harsh end of two handball calls made by VAR Chris Kavanagh against Philip Billing and Adam Smith respectively last weekend.

Despite on-field referee Mike Dean not awarding handball for either incidents, Billing was judged on review to have handled in the build-up to a Joshua King goal with the score at 0-0.

Full-back Smith was then penalised following a VAR check for handball in Cherries’ box, meaning a penalty to the Clarets was awarded on review - despite Howe’s men going up the other end scoring through Harry Wilson.

And Howe confirmed the club had made contact to “try and get a better understanding” over the pivotal decisions.

He said: “We’ve had dialogue with the authorities to try and get a better understanding of the thought processes behind the decisions, basically.

“We left Burnley obviously very disappointed with the result, analysing incidents in the game to see how conclusions and decisions were made.

“It was quite difficult because when you’re seeing one thing and you think ‘I can’t see how that’s gone against us’ I think you have to seek answers.

“Not that you’re going to change the decisions, you’re not looking to do that, but just so you have a better understanding of the process involved.

“It’s still a little bit grey to be honest in my mind as to how those decisions were reached, despite having communication with the appropriate people.

“But it’s something we have to accept and we’re definitely not going to change it now. Our mindset has to be that we are very much focused in the moment.”

Howe, whose side sit two points above the bottom three in the Premier League, host Chelsea in the top-flight tomorrow (3pm).

Andre Marriner is the on-field referee with Paul Tierney in the VAR seat at Stockley Park.

Howe added: “I’d like to think I’ve been pretty consistent with my thoughts on VAR.

“I think the offsides have improved the game. I know there will still be debate about how tight VAR should intervene with and how big are the lines and things like that but I think, in the main, it’s consistent for both teams.

“It’s been consistent through the season so I think that rule in itself has been pretty good.

“The others, there’s still been some bad decisions even with VAR and I’d like to trust the on-field referee a little bit more.

“I think the way the game is going, VAR is not going to disappear so maybe the on-field referee using the monitors more to back his decision or to change his call but I still think it should be in his hands.”