FEEL THE BURN
Burnley 1 Man Utd 1: Red Devils drop out of top four despite Pogba’s first goal in a year as Rangnick woes continue
IT WAS ANOTHER one of those nights for Ralf Rangnick.
Reflecting on last Friday’s FA Cup exit at the hands of Middlesbrough he bemoaned his side’s failure to convert their chances when on top, while switching off at the back.
8
8
Fast forward four days and it was the same story.
Cristiano Ronaldo also had one of his famous strops at the full-time whistle having not started.
Oh dear.
Dominant in the first period, United should have been over the Lancashire hills and far away.
But they lead by only Paul Pogba’s first half strike in the 18th minute.
The door was left open and Burnley and Jay Rodriguez burst through it with the equaliser.
latest man utd news
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS
That is seven points dropped now from their last 15 available in the league.
They had the ball in the net three times in the first half here, with two ruled out, while Edinson Cavani’s point-blank header was superbly saved by Burnley goalkeeper Pope.
The Red Devils thought they had broken the deadlock after just 12 minutes before VAR and numerous replays intervened.
Bruno Fernandes curled a deep free kick from 30 yards into the area and Raphael Varane timed his run perfectly to thump a header back across Pope and in.
He could not have met it better, he was onside and the players were set to restart... but wait.
Referee Mike Dean himself was even shaking his head over what the problem was until he was ordered by VAR Stuart Atwell to have a look at the screen by the side of the pitch.
Varane was not the problem but Harry Maguire.
The United captain was in an offside position when he blocked Jay Rodriguez's path to reach Varane.
8
8
So no goal, you just can’t get away with anything.
United kept on the front foot and seven minutes later there was no denying them a lead.
Bruno Fernandes superbly volleyed a ball from the centre of the pitch out left to Marcus Rashford.
He held the ball up and waited for the overlapping Luke Shaw to arrive and fed him.
The pull-back was perfect for Pogba who had held back in the box while everyone else charged to the near post.
The Frenchman met it with a thumping side foot finish into the roof of the net.
His first goal for Manchester United since April of last year in a 6-2 win over AS Roma in Europe.
It was his first in the league in over a year since getting the winner in January 2021 at Fulham.
8
8
Just two minutes later in the 21st United thought they had a second.
Shaw crossed to the far post and Rashford’s ball back into the box was turned into his own net by Josh Bronwnhill.
The linesman flagged, but what for?
Pogba had jumped to reach the ball with Erik Pieters but it was hardly a foul. The linesman thought otherwise.
United went again in search of a second.
Sancho flicked the ball to Shaw who was having a storming first half.
His cross looped up and seemed to hang in the air for an age before Cavani headed it, but Pope had time to set himself, make himself big and blocked the ball.
Cavani was full of movement throughout the opening period, no doubt benefitting from those extra two days he asked to have off following international duty in Uruguay.
8
What’s wrong with Manchester this time of year?
Ronaldo meanwhile was watching on from the bench but you could understand why with him having played 120 minutes on Friday a day before his 37th birthday.
That game began a punishing programme of seven games in 22 days.
Burnley, with one league win all season, needed a response and they got it with an equaliser just three minutes after the restart.
Rodriguez got it but credit new signing Wout Weghorst for the assist.
He brilliantly turned between Maguire and Scott McTominay to set him through and Rodriguez finished past the advancing David de Gea.
Turf Moor was alive and four minutes later the home supporters thought they had the lead.
Weghorst’s 25 yard volley was low and full of power and De Gea needed every inch of his outstretched and to reach it and turn behind.
Maguire’s night was about to get worse as he was booked for hauling down Rodriguez with an arm round his neck.
8
United needed the cavalry to come to the rescue and Ronaldo was called from the bench for Cavani on 68 minutes.
His first action saw him return a throw-in straight back out of play much to the delight of the Burnley fans.
He would soon have them worried though.
After Rashford made a great run to the byline and cut the ball back Varane’s clever flick at the near post was turned behind by defender Ben Mee.
From the resulting corner Ronaldo rose highest but sent his header over.
Jesse Lingard was then thrown into the action for the final ten minutes – what a night he was missing at St James’.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
He couldn’t alter the game here.
More league points surrendered in the battle for fourth.
⚽ Read our Transfer News Live blog for the very latest rumours, gossip and done deals
Topics