Report: Burnley 1 United 1
Manchester United had to settle for a point as we were held to a 1-1 draw by a tenacious Burnley side in the Premier League on Tuesday night.
The Reds found the net three times in the first half at Turf Moor, but only Paul Pogba’s strike counted as the Frenchman netted in his first appearance in the league in 2022.
Jay Rodriguez’s close-range leveller early in the second half was to be the last decisive action, leaving the two sides to share the spoils.
Revealed: Who's your Man of the Match?
ArticleOur poll was close after Tuesday night's 1-1 draw with Burnley at Turf Moor.
FIRST HALF – POGBA POUNCES
The Reds kicked-off in wet and blustery conditions in Lancashire and it was a first half full of incident. Marcus Rashford created an early chance, but Nick Pope was equal to his near-post shot and turned it behind.
After 11 minutes Raphael Varane had the ball in the net for what would have been his first United goal, but after a lengthy VAR delay it was ruled out. The Frenchman had connected expertly with a delightful Bruno Fernandes free-kick, shaping a header perfectly across goal. However the officials eventually concluded that Harry Maguire had been in an offside position when Fernandes played the ball and interfered with play by bumping shoulders with Jay Rodriguez.
Not letting their heads go down, Ralf Rangnick’s men stuck to the task and when Paul Pogba rifled a Luke Shaw cutback into the top corner, there was no doubting his goal would stand – with the midfielder's lethal finish getting him on the scoresheet at Turf Moor for the second season in succession.
The ball was in the Burnley net once more when Josh Brownhill turned Rashford’s pass into his own goal, but it was also ruled out following a very late flag by the linesman, who gave a foul against Pogba in the build-up.
Continuing to dominate, United created a hatful of chances as Edinson Cavani, Fernandes and Rashford were all denied by Pope before the half was out. The pick of those was when a cross by Shaw looped to Cavani at the back post. The Uruguayan had to wait for the ball to arrive, giving the keeper just enough time to fling his body in the way of the header which looked destined to go in.
SECOND HALF – BURNLEY BOUNCE BACK
In just the second minute of the second 45, the Clarets were level. Rodriguez was played in behind and as the defence raced back to catch him he tucked the ball away for 1-1.
Burnley’s January signing Wout Weghorst might have doubled their advantage soon after, if not for the exploits of David De Gea. The Spaniard validated his Player of the Month tag with a wonderful stop, diving at full stretch to keep out the shot.
The goal had given the home side an extra impetuous that they didn’t show in the first half and with their tails up enjoyed their strongest spell of the match. Around the hour-mark it was Weghorst again creating in the final third, but he flashed a chance into the side-netting.
A dangerous Rashford run might have produced a second United goal when he darted into the box and provided the ball to Varane, who artistically flicked it towards the net. He was denied only by the quick action of Ben Mee deflecting it away. Substitute Cristiano Ronaldo also saw a good chance go begging as he headed over the bar inside the area.
Sean Dyche’s side began sitting deeper and deeper as the half wore on and the Reds pilled on the pressure in a bid to find a winner. In stoppage time Maguire saw a header go begging, glancing wide as United were ultimately left frustrated.
Burnley: Pope; Roberts, Tarkowskie, Mee (c), Pieters; Cornet (Lennon 69), Westwood, Brownhill, McNeil; Rodriguez (Barnes 89), Weghorst.
Subs not used: Hennessey, Lowton, Cork, Stephens, Collins, Bardsley, Long.
Goal: Rodriguez 47
Booked: Pieters, Brownhill
United: De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Maguire (c), Shaw; McTominay (Lingard 80), Pogba, Fernandes; Sancho, Cavani (Ronaldo 68), Rashford (Elanga 85).
Subs not used: Henderson, Lindelof, Jones, Wan-Bissaka, Matic, Mata.
Goal: Pogba 18
Booked: Maguire.