MANCHESTER UNITED 2, BURNLEY 2
Old Trafford was treated to a classic Manchester United comeback as they fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Burnley in injury time.
Paul Pogba’s penalty and Victor Lindelof’s injury time equaliser ensured that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had an unbeaten record as United boss after nine games after Ashley Barnes and Ashley Westwood had given the visitors a 2-0 lead with 9 minutes to go.
Rashford and Lukaku partnership under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
It was the first time Marcus Rashford and Romelu Lukaku started together under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – and a first Premier League first start for the Belgian who threaded the ball through to the England striker who only had Tom Heaton to beat but screwed his shot wide.
Although they had played together under Jose Mourinho this was a more dynamic partnership, each player happily interchanging positions and moving Burnley’s defenders.
Lukaku was withdrawn as United had to become even more positive in the final quarter of the game with both strikers equally wasteful and thwarted by some committed defending by Burnley.
Last ditch tackles and offsides
Phil Bardsley robbed Juan Mata as he was about to pull the trigger while Phil Jones – roundly booed by the visiting fans – nicked the ball off Chris Wood’s toes as both sides went at each other early on.
Jeff Hendrick and Paul Pogba (from Juan Mata’s dink) were denied goals by the offside flag as neither side seemed to pick up the momentum needed to score in the first half.
For a long while in the second half it seemed as though Burnley had thwarted United’s winning ambition but the Reds recovered in time to equalise right at the end.
Tom Heaton back in form
This was Tom Heaton’s 5th game back in the Burnley goal since his return from injury. He was well protected by his defence and some timely offside decisions, and made a spectacular save from Lukaku without knowing that the big Belgian had fouled his marker while winning a header.
Even when United piled bodies forward they never gave up and Heaton even guessed correctly which way to dive even though the Frenchman beat him.
Heaton made a further save from Pogba to keep Burnley in front but was finally beaten in injury time when he repelled Alexis Sanchez’ header from Ashley Young’s cross only for Victor Lindelof to stab in the rebound.
Burnley are still unbeaten with Heaton in goal since his return from injury but Clarets boss Sean Dyche will not like the fact that his side surrendered a 2-0 lead at Old Trafford to draw again for the third year in a row.
Going behind for the first time – a test of character for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United
This was to be Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first test of character – the first time that his United side had been behind when Ashley Barnes scored in the 51st minute.
There was plenty of time to react but no chance for a team talk at half time and the Reds boss listened to advice from his coaching team but resisted making a knee-jerk change with his Reds side continuing to attack.
He eventually made his change – on 62 minutes – with Jesse Lingard replacing the Andreas Pereira who lost possession to Jack Cork who created the goal.
He then introduced Alexis Sanchez for Romelu Lukaku as the Reds laid siege to Burnley.
United still couldn’t make that breakthrough as Burnley got bodies in front of every shot and Chris Wood’s late goal to make it 2-0 signalled a mass exodus from Old Trafford with 9 minutes to go with Burnley fans gleefully asking if there was a fire drill.
But those leaving early missed out on a classic late United siege followed by an injury time equaliser to maintain Solskjaer’s unbeaten record as United boss.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 2, Burnley 2
David De Gea: 6. Under pressure early on from Burnley. Second half save from Dwight McNeil after Burnley had gone ahead became vital.
Ashley Young: 6. Good crosses throughout the game but United lacked the killer instinct to convert them. One final cross in injury time was eventually converted by Lindelof.
Victor Lindelof: 6. Early mistake allowed Chris Wood into a shooting position. Regained his composure to hit the equaliser for United right at the end.
Phil Jones: 6. Booed by the visiting fans for his Blackburn connections in the past. Defensively solid.
Luke Shaw: 6. Decent crosses into the box but found Burnley in good form at the back.
Andreas Pereira: 5. Provided the legs in the engine room alongside Nemanja Matic, but he was responsible for losing the ball to Jack Cork which led the Ashley Westwood’s goal.
Nemanja Matic: 7. Solid in the midfield anchor role. Could do nothing about the goal.
Paul Pogba: 7. Energetic from the Frenchman, denied by the offside flag and inspired Tom Heaton. Headed over as United queued up to put the ball into the box. Scored a powerful late penalty and had a long range shot punched away by Heaton as United chased an unlikely equaliser.
Juan Mata: 6. Offside flag thwarted early chances. Was off target with other chances and was thwarted by Tom Heaton in the second half.
Romelu Lukaku: 6. Bouyed by his start, almost created a goal for his team mate Marcus Rashford early on. Fought hard to score but couldn’t score with Heaton and his defenders on form and faded.
Marcus Rashford: 6. Good movement but poor in front of goal..Lack composure on an early chance when put though by Romelu Lukaku and his tame shot in the second half was saved by Heaton.
Jesse Lingard (on for Andreas Pereira, 62): 6. On to give United more movement. Won a late penalty after he was dragged back in the box by Jeff Hendrick.
Alexis Sanchez (on for Romelu Lukaku, 67): 6. Stationed on the left flank as United re-organised. Not much went right for him but he did put Tom Heaton off balance with an injury time header from which Victor Lindelof scored off the rebound.
GOALS – Manchester United 2, Burnley 2
Man Utd 0, Burnley 1: 51. Jack Cork robbed Andreas Pereira and threaded Ashley Barnes through from the edge of the D and Barnes did the rest from 12 yards out #mufc #munbur #burnleyfc
Man Utd 0, Burnley 2: 81. Ashley Westwood’s deep right wing cross headed home from 6 yards out by Chris Wood
Man Utd 1, Burnley 2: 87. Paul Pogba with powerful penalty to the left after Jesse Lingard was pulled back by Jeff Hendrick.
Man Utd 2, Burnley 2: 90+2. Ashley Young’s cross was headed towards goal by Alexis Sanchez and saved by Tom Heaton but the Burnley keeper could not keep out Victor Lindelof’s powerful drive from the rebound crashing into the back of the net off his body.
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 2, Burnley 2
Man Utd: De Gea, Young, Lindelof, Jones, Shaw, Pereira (Lingard 62), Matic, Pogba, Mata, Lukaku (Sanchez 67), Rashford
Man Utd Subs not used: Romero, Smalling, Fred, Dalot, Herrera
Booked: Mata 72
Goals: Pogba 87 pen, Lindelof 90+2
Burnley: Heaton, Bardsley, Tarkowsky, Mee, Taylor, Hendrick, Cork, Westwood, McNeil (Berg Gudmundsson 78), Barnes, Wood
Burnley Subs not used: Hart, Vokes, Ward, Vydra, Benson
Booked: Barnes 60, Taylor 73, Cork 90+5
Goals: Barnes 51, Westwood 81
Attendance: 74,529