Match report: Burnley 2 United 2

Former United midfielder and current Under-18s boss Fletcher, who was taking interim charge of the team after Ruben Amorim's departure as head coach on Monday, saw the Reds go behind to an Ayden Heaven own goal in the first half.

His side battled back though and, after having two attempts cleared off the line either side of a disallowed Lisandro Martinez strike, went ahead when Sesko scored twice in the first 15 minutes of the second period to turn the game on its head.

An equaliser from Burnley substitute Jaidon Anthony got the hosts back on terms entering the final quarter of the match, which we nearly netted a dramatic late winner in, when young Shea Lacey struck the crossbar in the closing stages.

United had registered 30 shots by full-time and were unlucky not to take more than a Premier League point from an encounter that saw midfielders Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount make their returns from injury.

FIRST HALF - DEFLECTION CREATES DEFICIT

Captained by the returning Fernandes, United lined up in a back four and directed much of our early attacking play down the left flank, where the lively Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu was stationed high on the wing and provided an early threat.

It was down the home team's left side that the game's opening goal came, however, at the other end. United Academy graduate Hannibal was back from representing Tunisia at the Africa Cup of Nations and slipped in Chelsea youth product Bashir Humphreys, who had the time to drill a low cross that looped up off Heaven, over Senne Lammens and into the far side of our net.

On a cold night in east Lancashire, the 13th-minute deficit was responded to by audible support of the Reds from our travelling fans, who watched as Sesko headed a Fernandes cross at Martin Dubravka, our former goalkeeper between Burnley's sticks.

That was our first clear-cut opportunity for an equaliser, mustered midway through the half, but more would quickly follow as Fletcher's men gained an increased foothold in the contest. Fernandes clipped a clever free-kick out to Casemiro, whose header across goal was met by Matheus Cunha and nodded towards the target, where Humphreys got back to clear the ball off the line.

From the resulting corner, the Reds did find the net, but Martinez's celebrations were curbed. The centre-back looked to have fired home his first goal of the season, after Sesko's shot broke to him at close range, but he was judged to have fouled Kyle Walker before pivoting to power past Dubravka.

Fletcher's confused expression on the touchline suggested he thought the decision was harsh, but his players had no time to dwell, with Burnley soon to be breaking forward in the other direction. Lucas Pires, on the end of another left-sided attack, drilled his effort across goal and wide.

That chance was an anomaly in the sequence of opportunities, as the end of the first half approached, with United starting to dominate the count. Dubravka was comfortable in collecting a rolled effort from Sesko and a Manuel Ugarte volley was also simple for him to catch, after it had the pace and power taken out of it by a block.

The goalkeeper was made to work harder to preserve his clean sheet moments later, though. Sesko showed his neck muscle to direct a Casemiro cross on target, but Dubravka stretched to tip it over the crossbar, before Ugarte powered another attempt wide of goal.

Only two minutes of injury time were added at the end of the half, but that was long enough a period for United to have another shot cleared off the line, this time a dink from Dorgu that Maxime Esteve stretched to remove from under the bar.

SECOND HALF - SESKO DOUBLE CAN'T WIN IT

Dorgu was again denied, this time by Walker in the opening two minutes of the second half, but the early attack was a sign that United's intent had been carried through the interval.

That persistence soon paid dividends, as Sesko got the first of his two goals just five minutes after the restart. Fernandes threaded a pass beyond the Burnley backline that proved to be his eighth assist of the season, after it was lasered across goal and in by the aforementioned Slovenian.

From a similar position, on the right side of the hosts' 18-yard area, captain Fernandes nearly had a comeback goal moments later. It was Martinez who supplied the pass from deep, which our no.8 controlled well before striking onto the near post, much to his frustration.

The continuing pressure was an encouraging sign and the Reds next threatened from a set-piece. Fernandes was involved again, as it was his corner from the left that was headed wide by Heaven, from close range.

It was a golden chance passed up, but the encounter was not level for much longer. On the hour mark, Sesko struck again to make it 2-1, showing composure to angle his right foot and expertly guide home Dorgu's pinpoint cross from the left.

Fernandes departed the pitch with his team ahead soon after, replaced by Mount to mark the latter's own return from a recent injury absence. Mainoo would also seal his comeback off the bench in the second half, but not before Burnley drew level through a substitute of their own.

Anthony had not long been on the field when he faked to shoot with his right foot and went inside of a double pursuit from Martinez and Luke Shaw, before bending the ball across Lammens's goal and into the far top corner with his left boot, only six minutes after our second goal.

With parity restored, a confident-looking Sesko again tested Dubravka but had no luck after trapping a pass from Shaw, before Dorgu found our no.30 with another cross that preceded the goalkeeper keeping out a slightly miscued first-time effort.

Academy graduate Lacey was introduced for his second senior appearance as United pushed for a winner in the closing stages, and went incredibly close to delivering it himself. The 18-year-old came inside from the right flank and curled a 20-yard attempt which looked in, but agonisingly crashed away off the crossbar.

With almost the last kick of the game, the youngster then powered narrowly wide, seconds before the full-time whistle confirmed the points would be shared.

MATCH DETAILS

Burnley: Dubravka; Walker (c), Laurent, Esteve, Humphreys, Pires; Edwards (Sonne 90+2), Ugochukwu, Florentino, Hannibal (Anthony 58); Broja (Foster 76).

Unused substitutes: Weiss, Ekdal, Hartman, Barnes, Bruun Larsen, Tchaouna.

Booked: Hannibal, Foster.

Goals: Heaven (og) 13, Anthony 66.

United: Lammens; Dalot, Heaven (Yoro 61), Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro (Mainoo 74), Ugarte (Lacey 84); Cunha (Zirkzee 74), Fernandes (c) (Mount 61), Dorgu; Sesko.

Unused substitutes: Bayindir, Maguire, Malacia, J. Fletcher.

Goals: Sesko 50, 60.