Harry Maguire celebrates a goal during Manchester United's 2-0 win at Burnley

Maguire: We had to dig deep

Sunday 29 December 2019 05:00

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire admits the Reds had to dig deep to secure victory against Burnley at Turf Moor.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side took home all three points, courtesy of goals at the end of each half from Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford, to end 2019 with a flourish.

Maguire said the team did well to hold its nerve late on, when under pressure from the Clarets, and keep a clean sheet for the first time in the league since September's victory over his former club Leicester City.

“We had to work hard and we had to dig in deep, especially for the last 15 minutes, when they were throwing balls into then box,” Maguire told BT Sport after the final whistle.

“We did well in the end and we didn’t give many chances away.

“Maybe we could have been a little bit better in the second half on the ball and killed the game off that way, but it’s a big three points for us.”

Although Burnley only managed one shot on target – a rasping Phil Bardsley effort which David De Gea did well to turn wide – Maguire was pleased to have kept a clean sheet.

It was United’s first shut-out of the season away from home in the Premier League, and only our third so far this campaign.

“It’s been disappointing that we haven’t been keeping clean sheets,” admitted the summer signing.

“We’re a team that haven’t been conceding many chances, but set-plays and things like that - the basic things - have been letting us down.

“So it’s nice to come here and get a clean sheet and an away win.”

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