Burnley could be forgiven for feeling confident about their chances of getting one over on Manchester United when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men came to town earlier this evening. Alas, while their inconsistency has been difficult for a lot of their fans to stomach, they were able to give the masses something to smile about as they came out on top in this tight affair at Turf Moor.
United started the game a bit slow, but neither team was really able to test the other in front of goal. The possession game was with the visitors and that much was obvious, but it took them quite a while to actually do something with it. Just a few minutes before half time it was Anthony Martial who was able to take advantage of an error at the back from the Clarets, gifting the top four contenders the lead in the process.
Making it count
In the second half it was much of the same with Burnley failing to really inspire any sort of comeback. United certainly had to ride their luck at times and they were always going to have their backs against the wall, but they held on and even managed to add a second through a nice counter attack finish from Marcus Rashford.
Solskjaer had the following to say after the game up in Lancashire.
“In the first half I thought we were very good. We controlled it and dominated it. Second half of course there will be a couple more incidents in your box because they are throwing the ball into it but great defending.
“It is a big difference to get a clean sheet. It is important for us to know we can grind out results as well, even though if you score one you don’t always win but if we get the clean sheets we have a better chance to move up the table.
Dull but necessary
Burnley boss Sean Dyche, on the other hand, wasn’t too dissatisfied with how the game played out.
“It is sometimes the way it is. We played a top side. We worked hard tonight. It was a solid first half, we were in the game and a mistake changed that.
“It is hard to get Manchester United on the back foot but we certainly asked questions of them and certainly used the ball better. We created enough to nick something.
“I am pleased with the mentality tonight. It is hard playing these games but the mentality was good.”
Match Report
Burnley: Pope (6), Taylor (5), Mee (6), Tarkowski (6.5), Bardsley (7), McNeil (6), Cork (6.5), Westwood (6.5), Hendrick (5.5), Barnes (6), Wood (6.5), Rodriguez (6.5), Brady (6), Gudmundsson (6)
Manchester United: De Gea (7), Young (7), Lindelof (7.5), Maguire (7), Williams (7), Fred (7), Matic (7.5), James (7.5), Pereira (7), Rashford (8), Martial (7), Shaw (6), Lingard (6)
Referee: Mike Dean
Goals: Martial, Rashford
Yellow Cards: Bardsley, Mee, Taylor, McNeil :: Williams, Fred, Lingard
Red Cards: N/A
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