Manchester United slipped to a disappointing draw away at relegation-threatened Burnley under the guidance of interim manager Darren Fletcher despite a second-half brace from Benjamin Sesko. The Red Devils had to come from a goal behind at Turf Moor after a Bashir Humphreys cross looped off Ayden Heaven and beyond Senne Lammens. Sesko was wasteful in the first half but supplied two good finishes 10 minutes apart to put United 2-1 up in Lancashire on the hour mark.
Yet poor defending allowed Jaidon Anthony to pull Burnley level just six minutes later and the 19th-placed Clarets held on for a morale-boosting point in their battle to avoid the drop. The draw leaves United fifth and two points behind Liverpool in fourth, with their bitter rivals still having an extra game to play. Express Sport rates and slates the United players…
Man Utd player ratings vs Burnley
Senne Lammens – 6
Perhaps slightly too far over to the near post for the first goal but far from the real culprit. Couldn’t do anything for the second and didn’t face any other shots on target.
Diogo Dalot – 6
Slow out to Lucas Pires when the Brazilian fired just wide of the post in the first half but otherwise solid.
Ayden Heaven – 5
Unfortunate for the own goal which looped wickedly off his outstretched left foot but gets a 5 because he missed a great chance to make it 2-1 when he shouldered the ball wide from a corner while in loads of space. Looked gutted on his way off.
Lisandro Martinez – 5
Had a goal ruled out, perhaps harshly, in the first half for a foul on Kyle Walker. His defending for Jaidon Anthony’s equaliser was very poor for a player of his quality, dropping off and affording the forward far too much space to shoot.
Luke Shaw – 6
Steady enough from left-back and good on the ball, getting forward regularly. A decent pass into Sesko led to a second-half shot which Dubravka saved easily.
Casemiro – 5
A mixed night. Went to sleep for the Burnley opener and showed no awareness of Humphreys’ run. At the other end was influential first half. Looked like he’d got an assist before Cunha’s header was cleared. Great cross for a Sesko header and also set up Ugarte’s shot. But gets a 5 for his error for the goal which is unacceptable given his experience.
Manuel Ugarte – 6
An OK performance. Drilled wide on the half-volley from a good position but pushed forward a lot and better in possession than before.
Patrick Dorgu – 7
Deployed left wing, a poor touch saw a promising first-half counter-attack wasted but he had an effort cleared off the line by Esteve and produced a great cross for Sesko to put United in front. Another cross should have led to a Sesko hat-trick.
Bruno Fernandes – 8
How Man United missed their captain. He tried to feed Sesko with some clever passes in the first half and slid in Dorgu for the chip he had cleared off the line. Provided a beautiful assist for Sesko’s first and only denied a goal himself by the post. Subbed off with half an hour left, for rest.
Matheus Cunha – 6
Struggled to influence the game from the right wing as best he can. Thought he’d made it 1-1 with a header from a set-piece before it was sensationally cleared off the line and had a low shot well held by Dubravka.
Benjamin Sesko – 7
Seven shots on target – the most in a Premier League game this season. The first two were tame, but the third a good header that tested Dubravka. The next two both resulted in goals and were nice finishes. United will hope this is the night his career kickstarted. Should have had a hat-trick, though, so only a 7.
Substitutes
Leny Yoro (Heaven 61) – 6
Not at fault for Burnley’s second goal.
Mason Mount (Fernandes 61) – 5
Couldn’t disrupt the Burnley defence.
Kobbie Mainoo (Casemiro 74) – N/A
Blazed one shot well over the bar.
Joshua Zirkzee (Cunha 74) – N/A
Didn’t do enough.
Shea Lacey (Ugarte 84) – N/A
Struck the crossbar within his first few touches with a brilliant effort then fired another long-range one just wide.