LONDON -- Danny Rose condemned the video assistant referee (VAR) as ridiculous and a shambles and said it ruined what should have been a positive night for both Tottenham Hotspur and Rochdale on Wednesday.

The first half of Spurs' 6-1 win in the FA Cup fifth-round replay at Wembley Stadium was marred by a number of controversial and confusing decisions by the VAR, and Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino warned afterwards that it could kill the game.

"It was interesting, very frustrating and just confusing more than anything," Rose said. "It just overshadowed a good performance by us and a good performance by Rochdale. There's no word to describe the game except frustrating, even though we won 6-1.

"It's just complete nonsense if you ask me, waiting around not knowing what's going on. It's ridiculous. Ridiculous. I've had a few messages already saying the VAR is a shambles. It's been the same in every round it's been used. How can you go from a free-flowing football game for 90 minutes to stopping for one or two minutes for a decision? It is what it is and we just have to get on with it."

Referee Paul Tierney ruled out Erik Lamela's fifth-minute goal using VAR for a foul by Fernando Llorente and Spurs were denied a penalty using VAR even though Lucas Moura appeared to be blocked in the area.

Son Heung-Min then gave the hosts the lead before they were awarded a penalty using VAR after Kieran Trippier was fouled. But Son's successful spot kick was ruled out for ungentlemanly conduct after he stuttered in the run-up and Rochdale equalised through Stephen Humphrys -- a goal reviewed by VAR -- before half-time.

Each decision took over a minute while baffled players and supporters waited in sub-freezing and snowy conditions. There were five minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first period.

"After an incident had happened, [Tierney] was fully open to us asking why he stopped," Rose said. "He explained his decisions -- some we don't agree with. For instance, the penalty, he said Sonny had stopped just before he kicked the ball but to me it didn't look like it. He stopped a few yards before. It didn't make sense.

"But we managed to score six goals and luckily we're not on the losing side complaining about VAR. I feel for Rochdale. Some of their players said it was their first time at Wembley and it's completely overshadowed. It could have been a nice occasion for them."

Danny Rose has made two appearances for Tottenham Hotspur, both in the FA Cup, since recovering from a knee injury. Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Asked how the system could be improved, Rose said: "I honestly have no idea but what I experienced was not good at all."

Llorente scored a perfect hat trick in 12 minutes after the restart and Son and substitute Kyle Walker-Peters added further goals in a second half free of VAR incidents.

Rose has not featured in the Premier League since Boxing Day after injuring a knee in the draw at Southampton, and his only appearances in 2018 have been against Newport County and Rochdale in the FA Cup.

"I feel OK," he said. "It was a strange game for myself. I couldn't really get into the game. It was frustrating and the conditions didn't help. It's been a nice test for myself up against Rochdale these last two games because they're a good footballing team.

"I hope I can be part of an exciting cup run for Tottenham and the more wins I get the happier I'll be. We're on a good run now and as long as we keep winning I'll be happy and everyone else will be happy.

"We're excited for what lies ahead. We're obviously not going to disregard Swansea [in the FA Cup quarterfinal] and after that, if we do get through that, we obviously don't fear Chelsea or Man United. It's very exciting times for us now, with the Champions League [round-of-16 second leg against Juventus] coming up. I'd like to think we're favourites in that game as well. It could be a very exciting end to a very hard season."