Football news - Manchester United stage late comeback to salvage draw against Burnley
Updated 29/01/2019 at 23:14 GMT
Premier League, Old Trafford - Manchester United 2 (Pogba P 87', Lindelof 90+3') Burnley 2 (Barnes 51', Wood 81')
A stunning late comeback from Manchester United ripped two points from Burnley in an enthralling second half, preserving their unbeaten record under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - and in 'Ole-time' too. United stay sixth, but are now two points behind Arsenal, while Burnley move up a spot to 15th.
Though United started without two members of their first-choice front three, they were quickly into their stride and ought to have taken the lead on nine minutes when Romelu Lukaku put Marcus Rashford through. But he skewed his shot wide, and United created little thereafter, their lack of pace and width playing into the hands of Burnley's superbly organised defence.
Then, on 51 minutes, Andreas Pereira dallied on the ball outside his own box and was robbed by Jack Cork, who did well not to panic, biding his time before releasing a pass for Ashley Barnes, who released a fierce, rising shot that flew past David de Gea and high into the net.
United huffed and puffed in retaliation, but James Tarkowski and Ben Mee repelled almost everything - and behind them, Tom Heaton was solid when called upon. And, with just nine minutes remaining, Burnley scored again, Ashley Westwood's swinging cross finding Chris Wood in the box and unmarked; he glanced past De Gea, and Sean Dyche's looked like they were home.
But United tore into them, chasing the game relentlessly and with three minutes to go, the pressure told, Jeff Hendrick panicking and fouling Jesse Lingard inside the box; Pogba duly smacked home the penalty, with none of his ostentatious pigeon-stepping. Then, in the third minute of injury-time, Heaton shoved out Alexis Sanchez's header and Victor Lindelof was on-hand to slam home his first United goal; the winning run is over but the unbeaten one remains, and somehow, Solskjaer comes up smelling of roses yet again.
TALKING POINT
Did Solskjaer take a liberty? Manchester United have a fine first-choice attack, but though the replacements are talented players too, they are not of the same class and do not combine in the same way. So without Lingard, the injured Martial, and with Rashford starting on the left, they had to rely on the slower and less cohesive Romelu Lukaku and Juan Mata. The difference was obvious, and United were duly punished.
MAN OF THE MATCH
James Tarkowski (Burnley) This could go to any member of the Burnley back-four, but it was Tarkowski who led the way.
PLAYER RATINGS
Manchester United: De Gea 6, Young 6, Jones 6, Lindelof 6, Shaw 6, Matic 6, Pereira 5, Pogba 6, Mata 5, Lukaku 5, Rashford 5. Subs: Lingard 6, Sanchez 6,
Burnley: Heaton 8, Bardsley 8, Tarkowski 8, Mee 8, Taaylor 8, Hendrick 5, Cork 7, Westwood 7, McNeil 6, Wood 7, Barnes 7. Subs: Gudmundsson 6.
KEY MOMENTS
9’ - What a miss! Pogba wins it in midfield and Rashford picks up, threading a fine pass into Lukaku who holds it up, turns, chucks in a stepover and plays a return pass. Rashford's first touch to collects is nice, but in trying to ease him with the outside of his right foot, he gets too little on the ball, slicing his shot well wide from eight yards.
51’ - GOAL! Manchester United 0-1 Burnley (Barnes) Oh! Pereira dawdles on the ball outside the box, taking time he doesn't have, and Cork is having none of it, barging through him, taking his time, and threading a pass through to Barnes, who absolutely panels a shot high past De Gea and into the roof of the net. This is the first time United have been behind in a game under Old Gunnar Solskjaer!
66’ - What a save! Young tries a cross, but it's cleared back to him so he goes again, and Lukaku nudges into Tarkowski, and Heaton, who was moving right, goes back left to tip away!
81’ - GOAL! Manchester United 0-2 Burnley (Wood) Well! Gudmundsoon finds himself on the right, between touchline and box, so lays back for Westwood, and his outswinging cross finds Wood away from Young as Lindelof steps up, and he glances easily into the far corner! Amazing!
87’ - PENALTY TO UNITED! Mata slides a ball into Lingard on the right of the box and Hendrick pulls him down for no reason…
87’ - GOAL! Manchester United 1-2 Burnley (Pogba pen) No pigeon steps this time. Pogba ambles up to the ball and punches it high to Heaton's right. he goes the right way but he's nowhere near.
90+3’ - GOAL! Manchester United 2-2 Burnley (Lindelof) Sanchez heads, Heaton saves well ...but can only feed Lindelof, who scores his first United goal! what a comeback! An equaliser in Oletime!
KEY STAT
Sean Dyche has never lost a Premier League game on a Tuesday, winning three and drawing three of his six games.
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