MAN UNITED 2, BURNLEY 2
Misfiring Manchester United lost further ground in the Premier League title race after being held at home by Burnley.
But it would have been worse but for super-sub Jesse Lingard who scored twice as the Reds snatched a point having been 2-0 down at half time.
Lingard struck his third brace of the campaign, the equaliser netted in stoppage time as United staved off a first home Boxing Day defeat in 39 years.
And it left the Clarets crestfallen as they came agonisingly close to winning at Old Trafford for the first time since 1962.
In a captivating contest, United fell 2-0 behind through goals by Ashley Barnes and Steven Defour after an abject opening period for the Reds.
But a double substitution at the break – Jose Mourinho brought on Lingard and Henrikh Mkhitaryan – helped transform their fortunes as they battled back to earn a draw.
While United enjoyed 72-per-cent possession and had 23 goal attempts to Burnley’s three, they lacked quality in the final third, though Burnley deserved credit for the way in which they defended.
United manager Mourinho was pleased with the character of his players adding he could not fault their effort.
He said: “We had a problem with our first-half performance that lacked intelligence and another s word.
“At 2-0 it was difficult and at half time my players needed to believe in me, accept the risk and not be afraid to lose by three or four and a possible negative reaction from the supporters.
“I am very happy with their character and the way we played to try and break a well organised wall. To defend well is a quality and they defended well and credit to them.”
When questioned about spending £300million and losing more ground in the title race, Mourinho pointed out he is in the second year of rebuilding a football team that is not one of the best in the world.
He added that Manchester City have spent more on full backs than they have on strikers.
“To come here with a depleted side and get a point was pleasing,” explained Clarets’ manager Sean Dyche who has won at Chelsea and drawn at Liverpool, Tottenham and United. His side at Old Trafford cost £40million, half of what the Reds paid for Paul Pogba.
Mourinho, critical of his players after Saturday’s loss at Leicester City, made four changes, though Chris Smalling’s was enforced by injury.
Victor Lindelof, Lingard and Anthony Martial also lost their places, Martial not even making the matchday 18.
Marcos Rojo and Luke Shaw stepped into the defence while Marcus Rashford and Zlatan Ibrahimovic provided additional firepower.
It was the first time Romelu Lukaku and Ibrahimovic had lined up alongside each other.
Burnley were without the banned James Tarkowski while the injury absentees included Tom Heaton, Stephen Ward, Robbie Brady and Chris Wood.
United made the worst possibly start as they fell behind in the third minute.
Rojo picked up his fifth caution as he was booked for a foul on Jeff Hendrick on the left of the box. Johann Berg Gudmundsson floated in a free kick to the far post that was not cleared and Barnes fired home from five yards.
Burnley came within inches of making it 2-0 inside 12 minutes when Gudmundsson crossed for Scott Arfield whose cross hit the top of the crossbar.
Shaw made a dazzling burst forward and his drive forced a decent diving save from Nick Pope who minutes later clawed a Pogba header that was looping towards the top corner of the net.
It got better for Burnley who doubled their lead after 36 minutes after Ashley Young fouled Arfield 25 yard out.
Defour took the free kick from 25 yards that found the top corner with David De Gea comprehensively beaten.
United almost halved the deficit moments later when Rashford weaved his way clear. His shot beat Pope, but Ben Mee was on the line to make a vital clearance.
Pogba went close with a screamer from 25 yards as United looked to get a toehold back into the game.
Mourinho made a double change at the break hauling off Rojo and Ibrahimovic and bringing on Lingard and forgotten man Mkhitaryan.
The changes certainly had the desired effect as United came storming back.
Lingard came close to scoring when his shot from four yards struck Pope in the face and rebounded up on to the crossbar.
And Lingard halved the deficit in the 53rd minute with an audacious strike. Ashley Young crossed from the right and Lingard’s cheeky back heel eluded Pope creeping in low to his right.
Pogba went close to equalising as his free kick cleared the crossbar by a couple of feet.
United made it 2-2 in the first five added minutes following a goalmouth scramble after a free kick as Burnley’s resistance was finally broken. Young fired towards goal and the ball fell to Lingard whose shot from 16 yards flew low to the left of Pope. It was his eighth goal of the season.