MAN UNITED 2, BURNLEY 2
It was reminiscent of Fergie time of old as Manchester United came back from the dead to snatch a last-gasp draw at home to Burnley.
It looked for the world as though Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would experience his first defeat as Reds’ caretaker manager when the Clarets found themselves 2-0 ahead in the 87th minute through goals from Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood.
United’s resilience and character on a rare off-night surfaced as a penalty from Paul Pogba and stoppage time equaliser from Victor Lindelof earned a point after Burnley had looked set to win at Old Trafford for the first time since 1962.
And had the game gone on for a further five minutes, you could have seen United complete the comeback as they were in the ascendancy and Burnley grimly hanging on for a point and a draw for each of the last three seasons at the home of the Reds.
Though Solskjaer saw his 100-per-cent record from eight league and cup games ended, he remains unbeaten from nine matches.
But a win would have made it seven straight Premier League wins, the best-ever start by a manager, a record he shares on six with Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti.
Burnley’s revival continued since the return after injury of former Reds’ player Tom Heaton in goal – three wins and two draws from the last five league games – and the keeper made some important saves as United, though off colour, still managed 28 goal attempts with nine on target.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt was the first time United had fallen behind in Solskjaer’s reign and he said: “So many people told me after the game we showed the fighting spirit of old in the way we came back.
“It was a good point, but we could have ended up with three, but ran out of time.
“We started too late and were only 90-per-cent. You have to start properly and we did not start well enough to trouble Burnley. We needed more tempo and urgency, but we still had 75-per-cent possession.”
Burnley manager Sean Dyche wasn’t disappointed, saying he was pleased how the “mentality is growing” after a difficult start to the season.
Dyche said: “It is very tough coming here. There is a difference in the feel here and more freedom from the players.
“You sense the feel around the club and a very popular player (Solskjaer) has returned.”
“Jose Mourinho was a top, top manager and I am not suggesting anything otherwise, but there is a different feel and it was a very good performance to get a point.”
United made five changes from the side that won at Arsenal in the FA Cup.
There were recalls for David De Gea, Phil Jones, Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford and Andreas Pereira.
Standing down were Sergio Romero, Eric Bailly, Ander Herrera, Jesse Lingard and Alexis Sanchez while Anthony Martial, who was on the bench against Arsenal, was ruled out through an injury picked up in training.
Burnley named the same side that earned a draw at Watford in their last Premier League match.
United remembered the victims of the Munich air disaster as this was the nearest match to the 61st anniversary with families of the victims invited to Old Trafford.
It was also poignant that while marked their own tragedy they held one minute’s silence for Cardiff City striker Emilio Sala and pilot Derek Ibbotson after the light aircraft last week disappeared over the English Channel.
United ought to have taken a ninth minute lead when Romelu Lukaku put Rashford clean through, but he sliced his shot wide with only Heaton to beat.
It was not one of United’s more accomplished openings as they struggled to find any rhythm against a solid and resolute Burnley who were far more of a threat than in Saturday’s 5-0 loss at Manchester City.
Pogba found the net six minutes before the break, but he had strayed offside as he ran on to a pass from Mata who moments later fired narrowly wide.
United began the second half with more urgency and in the opening four minutes Mata and Pogba both forced saves from Heaton in the opening four minutes.
Burnley snatched the lead, though, in the 51st minute when Pereira was robbed by Jack Cork who released Barnes who shot high past De Gea.
It was the first time United had trailed under Solskjaer and they responded positively as Rashford forced another decent save from Heaton before firing narrowly wide.
Burnley grew in confidence and a fierce drive from former United academy player Dwight McNeil was punched away by De Gea.
United made their first change just after the hour when Pereira was replaced by Lingard.
There was a failed appeal for a penalty after Ashley Westwood appeared to handle and moments later Lukaku was denied by a wonder save from Heaton from inside the six-yard box.
United’s second change mid-half saw Lukaku make way for Sanchez.
But it was Burnley who struck again with nine minutes left when Wood headed home from six yards following a cross from Westwood.
United were handed a lifeline in the 87th minute when they won a penalty after Jeff Hendrick clearly pulled back Lingard and Pogba obliged from, the spot with his 11th goal of the season and sixth goal and four assists since Solskjaer took charge in mid-December.
Heaton denied Pogba with a super save at the end of regulation time, but United were handed five added minutes.
They drew level in the second when Heaton pulled off another brilliant stop from a Sanchez header following an Ashley Young cross. The ball fell invitingly to Lindelof as the Swedish centre back found the net from inside the six-yard box.
Heaton managed to get to the ball but prevent it nestling in tbe back of the net.
United had a further two-and-a-half minutes to find a winner but never looked like doing so as it would have been tough on Burnley had they left empty handed as their considerable efforts deserved reward.