Manchester United 3-1 Burnley
Manchester United moved to within eight points of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League thanks to a Mason Greenwood double in a hard fought victory over Burnley.
In an explosive start to the second half Greenwood gave the Red Devils the lead but James Tarkowski equalised just two minutes later. It looked like the Clarets would hold out for a point until Greenwood struck late on, with the help of a big deflection. As Burnley threw men forward Edinson Cavani made it three deep into injury time.
Having played expansive attacking football with little success in recent weeks the Clarets were back to their combative best but, in the end, the Red Devils’ quality saw them through. The Premier League 2021 betting odds suggest the Clarets will avoid being dragged into the relegation places and, while it’s an extremely long shot, Manchester United have the Sky Blues in their sights.
Highlights of the game
The Clarets had the ball in the net in the first minute when Chris Wood chased a long pass which Dean Henderson made a mess of, allowing the Burnley striker to head home, but the flag went up for offside to spare the United keeper’s blushes; and in a lively opening Bailey Peacock-Farrell, in for the injured Nick Pope, made a good save to keep out a looping header from Paul Pogba.
As the game swung from end to end Henderson made a strong save to deny Wood and then Bruno Fernandes, the league’s third-highest scorer with 16 goals and 11 assists, fired a shot inches wide. Then Peacock-Farrell did well to hold on to a dangerous cross from Mason Greenwood. Burnley were containing Manchester United reasonably well but when Matt Lowton gave Marcus Rashford too much time on the ball the England striker struck a fierce effort which Peacock-Farrell tipped over.
Lowton did better at the other end swinging in a brilliant cross which Wood headed just wide. Greenwood was inches away from meeting a Rashford cross as United probed for the opener and Wood had another chance for Burnley, meeting a knock-down from James Tarkowski and volleying just wide.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made a half time change, bringing on Edinson Cavani to replace Fred and Burnley’s resistance was breached three minutes into the second half. Rashford broke away down the left flank and crossed low into the danger area, Fernandes dummied and Greenwood fired home.
But Burnley hit back immediately!
Dwight McNeil did well to win a corner and when Ashley Westwood swung the dead ball kick in Tarkowski fought off a challenge from Harry Maguire to head home.
Fernandes came close to restoring United’s lead, midway through the second half when he met a cross from Luke Shaw but the Burnley keeper saved again. United continued to threaten, dominating possession but Burnley remained dangerous on the break as Wood continued to cause the hosts problems.
But then United had the luck they needed for their pressure to finally tell, on 84 minutes, when Greenwood’s shot from the right side of the penalty area took a wicked deflection off Jack Cork to leave the Burnley keeper wrong-footed. As Burnley threw men forward Cavani made it three with a 93rd minute tap in.
Key statistics
Here at SBOTOP we predicted a narrow United victory and the first half stats did little to challenge that tip. The Red Devils dominated possession and had two shots on target to Burnley’s one. It was the fourth Premier League game in succession that United failed to score in the first half.
In the end United had 17 shots to Burnley’s ten, and nine to three on target, but the Clarets will feel a little unlucky to lose in the manner they did.
Tarkowski’s equaliser was the 1,000 the goal conceded by Manchester United in the Premier League, but the Red Devils’ late onslaught ended Burnley’s for match unbeaten run at Old Trafford.
Only Chelsea have a longer unbeaten record away to the Red Devils with a run of six.
What’s next?
Manchester United have been clicking through the gears in recent weeks and now have five wins on the bounce and Solskjaer’s team has two mouth-watering fixtures coming up, with a clash against fierce league rivals Leeds United next, and then they are back in Europa League action with a semi-final against Roma at Old Trafford.
The weekend’s earlier Premier League 2021 results notably Arsenal’s 97th minute equaliser against Fulham have gone reasonably well for the Clarets but Burnley boss Sean Dyche has said he won’t start planning for the future until Burnley’s survival is guaranteed.
Dyche will expect points from the Clarets next two fixtures against Wolves and West Ham, before they take a trip to West London to meet Fulham on 8th May.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
