Burnley 0-2 Manchester United
A week can be a long time in Premier League football.
Whatever national television station or radio channel, newspaper or football internet site you will have visited over the last six days, there seemed to be a mini agenda against English football’s most successful club or, more specifically, its manager.
Of course, the boss Jose Mourinho is too much of an ego for some and his recent comments ensured the focus remained on him before kick-off but the general reaction to a home defeat to Spurs last week was highly disproportionate.
It will be interesting now to see how the same media react to this fine victory in Lancashire.
One swallow may not make a summer but nor should last season’s Premier League and FA Cup runners-up be written off on the basis of two defeats.
Highlights of the game
This had all the hallmarks of a compelling Premier League encounter for SBOBET followers.
In fairness to Burnley, they have had an exhausting start to the season and even opposing players have picked up on that in recent weeks.
In the first half, this seemed like one match too many for a team already playing its 10th match of the season.
After three qualifying rounds of the Europa League during July and August, no wonder Sean Dyche’s men have made a stuttering start – the exacting programme would take its toll on most squads, let alone one as small as the Clarets.
From the start they were up against opponents with a point to prove.
Jesse Lingard went close inside four minutes and new home goalkeeper Joe Hart had to be alert to deny Luke Shaw as the visitors started brightly with United fans vocal in their support for Mourinho.
Wearing their new pink away shirt – a homage to the fans’ favourite former Manchester Evening News publication – they kept battling Burnley at bay and took the lead when Romelu Lukaku headed past Hart after a perfectly weighted- delivery from the returning Alexis Sanchez.
Hart then denied Lukaku after he and Sanchez teamed up again but the Belgian wasn’t to be denied and grabbed his second a minute before the break after the ball fortuitously diverted into his path from a Lingard effort.
The goal will not make the Premier League 2018 highlights DVD at the end of the season but the importance was clear as Mourinho punched the air with delight.
The lively Sanchez, one of a few players involved in a seemingly running battle with former United man Phil Bardsley, was replaced by Marcus Rashford just after the hour and the talented teenager was soon brought down in the box.
Hart denied Pogba from the spot and Burnleysniffed a chance of a comeback moments later when Rashford was dismissed for an altercation with Bardsley (perhaps lucky to escape with only a yellow card himself).
The isolated Chris Wood was doing his best to bring them back into the game and Sam Vokes headed just over but United were comfortably managing the game and Lukaku may have completed a hat-trick with a bit more composure.
It didn’t matter. The United number nine had won the game and David De Gea produced a fine save to deny James Tarkowski and avoid a nervous final few minutes.
Man Utd remain well off the pace after the first four matches but the Premier League 2018 odds will change many times yet. This was a professional way to react to the media onslaught.
Key statistics
Juan Mata and Scott McTominay were among the away fans after the midfield duo were not included in the matchday squad.
A group of United fans flew a banner over Turf Moor before kick-off, criticising the cub’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, accusing him of failing to back Mourinho in the transfer market this summer.
This was United’s 10th clean sheet in their past 11 visits to Burnley.
This was Marouane Fellaini’s 250th Premier League game.
Burnley have now gone nine league matches without a win.
What’s next?
After the international break it’s more away days for Man Utd.
They face a tricky test when they travel to Watford and then head to Switzerland to open their Champions League campaign against Young Boys.
Then it’s back to Old Trafford a game against newly promoted Wolves.
Burnley now have no European exertions which may be a relief given the energy-sapping schedule of the Europa League tests even the best of squads.
They travel to Wolves on September 16 and host Bournemouth six days later.
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