MAN UTD 2, BURNLEY 0
Marcus Rashford inspired Manchester United who breezed back into action after a 38-day World Cup lay-off with victory against Burnley to claim a last-eight place in the Carabao Cup.
Goals from Christian Eriksen and Rashford sealed a relatively comfortable passage against the Championship leaders who are managed by City legend Vincent Kompany.
There were fears the Clarets, who have already played two league games following their resumption, might exploit the Reds’ rustiness.
They proved groundless as United, still without key personnel, gave a decent account of themselves before a crowd restricted to just over 62,000 because of the lack of ambulance staff due to strike action.
Manager Erik ten Hag was happy with the performance by his new-look side, explaining: “You never know what will happen after a five-week break.
Embed from Getty Images“This team had not played together before, but we played to our principles and with our rhythm.
“We could have scored more goals and had a clean sheet, though they also had chances.
“We know we have to step up, do better for our ambitions against Nottingham Forest.”
Ten Hag was delighted with Rashford who picked up where he left off before the break.
“It was a good goal with a dribble, a great finish. He is in great form and hopefully he will keep his focus and maintain these performances,” he said.
Kompany took positives from defeat, saying: “It was a good, honest, brave performance which was filled with energy.
“When I look back at the chances we had, if we had connected with one of them, it might have been different.
“I didn’t want us to roll over coming to Old Trafford, and we did not do that. I wanted us to get something from the game, if not the result the performance, and I took something from the performance.”
Many of United’s stars who played in the World Cup have been back in training this week – apart from Argentina’s Lisandro Martinez and France’s Raphael Varane.
How many of the returnees from Qatar would start against Burnley was the big question.
Rashford was one of five picked by ten Hag, but there was no place in the squad for Harry Maguire who was ruled out through illness.
There were also opportunities for goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka and forward Anthony Martial to shine.
Rhys Bennett, captain of the Reds’ FA Youth Cup winning team last season, was named on the bench, the first involvement for the teenage central defender from Denton.
Burnley earned comfortable victories in both of their matches since the Championship resumed and Kompany largely stuck to a winning formula.
Kompany made just two changes as keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell and experienced striker Ashley Barnes started.
In a lively opening, Barnes glanced a header wide for the visitors while United’s Alejandro Garnacho was denied by an important block by Peacock-Farrell.
The breakthrough came in the 27th minute as Eriksen netted his second goal for the Reds.
Bruno Fernandes fired a cross-field pass to Wan-Bissaka who, stretching, cut the ball back from the by-line for the Dane to shoot high into the roof of the net from inside the six-yard box.
Burnley’s response was positive as they had two great chances to draw level.
Dubravka clawed a fiercely struck shot from Belgium Manuel Benson around the post for a corner and then the Reds were saved by Casemiro’s goalline clearance after a defensive mix-up as Rashford could have seen a ricochet off him find his own net.
United were denied a second as Peacock-Farrell pulled off a super stop to turn away a goalbound effort from Anthony Martial.
Scott McTominay bent a shot into the Stretford End early in the second half as United sought to double their advantage.
The second goal came shortly before the hour, a fabulous solo effort from Rashford. Picking up the ball on halfway, he ran at the Clarets’ defence and cut in before firing low into the far corner for his ninth goal of the season.
That was immediately followed by a first change by the Reds as Garnacho was replaced by Antony.
Burnley had a great chance to half the deficit when Johann Gudmundsson put substitute Darko Churlinov, the North Macedonian winger, through on goal but he poked his shot wide before Barnes fired over as the visitors remained a threat.
United made two further switches as Martial and Wan-Bissaka made way for Anthony Elanga and Luke Shaw.
Burnley never gave up and Gudmundsson set up one on a plate for Barnes who blazed over from eight yards, a glaring miss.
Antony also had a great chance. After a jinking run, he brought a decent save from Peacock-Farrell.
Ten Hag’s final two changes late on involved Rashford and Tyrell Malacia who were substituted by Fred and Brandon Williams.