Match Report: Burnley 2-2 Manchester United | OneFootball

Manchester United were held to a 2-2 draw away at Burnley on Wednesday night.

It was a challenging first outing for interim manager Darren Fletcher, who was left with the monumental task of picking up the pieces following Ruben Amorim’s sacking.

First half

United looked more comfortable with a more traditional 4-2-3-1 formation, placing pressure on Burnley while keeping better control of the ball.

Despite some early signs of promise, United fell behind in the 13th minute. Lucas Pires crossed the ball into the centre, deflecting off Ayden Heaven and into the back of the net. It was a freak goal to hand Burnley the lead.

After Matheus Cunha was fouled near the box, Bruno Fernandes stepped up to take a free kick. He sent the ball to Casemiro, who headed the ball back across the goal to Cunha, only for the goalkeeper to get his gloves to Cunha’s shot.

After 27 minutes of play, it seemed as if Lisandro Martinez drew level for United, only for the referee to stop play. Despite heading the ball into the net from a corner, the goalscorer was adjudged to have fouled Kyle Walker in the build-up.

It appeared as if Burnley were en route to doubling their lead when Pires burst down the left flank and fired the ball past Senne Lammens, only for it to drift wide of the far post.

Five minutes from the break, Patrick Dorgu threaded a through ball to Benjamin Sesko, who did well to dribble past his marker, only for his shot to be saved by the keeper.

Barely two minutes later, Casemiro lobbed the ball to Sesko in the box, who took a sublime header that the keeper tipped over the crossbar.

Then, it was Manuel Ugarte’s turn, hammering a volley wide of the left post. While still a goal down, United were doing well to amp up the pressure.

As the half came to a close, it was clear that United had the ability to draw level and even go on to win the match so long as they were to concentrate and keep up the pressure. Fletcher would have no doubt sought to galvanise his team ahead of the crucial second half.

Second half

United came out swinging as the second half got underway, with Sesko and Dorgu enjoying a decent one-two on the edge of the box before Sesko’s shot was blocked.

At the stroke of 50 minutes, Sesko’s perseverance paid off. Fernandes picked out the striker with a slick through ball. Meanwhile, Sesko proved clinical, beating two defenders to the ball before slotting it past Martin Dubravka.

Barely ten minutes later, Sesko struck again. The Slovenian got on the end of a pass from Dorgu, scoring with his first touch. It was an impressive run and shot from the striker.

On the hour mark, Fletcher decided to take off Fernandes for Mason Mount, who was also marking his return from injury, while Leny Yoro replaced Heaven.

Barely five minutes later, the hosts spoiled the party. Jaidon Anthony took a long-range shot to level the scoreline yet again.

Yet again, United were required to ramp up their attacking efforts in order to restore their lead.

With 22 minutes left on the clock, United gave away a dangerous free kick. Marcus Edwards stepped up to take the shot, but the wall did its job to stop his shot in its tracks.

With less than 16 minutes to play, another double change was made. Kobbie Mainoo came on for Casemiro, while Joshua Zirkzee replaced Cunha.

Diogo Dalot made a threatening cross into the box, and while Yoro got his head to it, his effort went wide.

In the 84th minute, Shea Lacey came on for Ugarte. Barely a minute later, Lacey took a fiery shot that reverberated off the crossbar.

With five minutes of stoppage time awarded, Luke Shaw came close to scoring when he got on the end of a threatening cross. Unfortunately, he was unable to get the ball under his control.

It was a frustrating draw for United, who would have wanted to secure a full three points against clearly weaker opponents. Still, it wasn’t a bad result given that United remain severly understaffed and Fletcher had barely a day to prepare his team following Ruben Amorim’s sacking.

Fletcher will be hoping that United can improve on this result, especially given the bursts of attacking promise shown by his front line.

Starting XI: Lammens, Shaw, Martinez, Heaven, Dalot, Casemiro, Cunha, Fernandes, Dorgy, Sesko Subs: Mount, Yoro, Mainoo, Zirkzee

Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images

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