Manchester United managed to salvage a point against Burnley through Jesse Lingard’s injury-time equaliser after somehow falling two goals behind to Sean Dyche’s side at Old Trafford.
José Mourinho rang the changes after the draw against Leicester on Saturday, with Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcus Rashford coming into the side, but they would not have a positive impact, as the Reds fell behind early.
United’s defending at set pieces was exposed again as Ashley Barnes fired past David de Gea with just two minutes gone after a goalmouth scramble from a free-kick and it would only get worse for the Reds, as Steven Defour made it 2-0 to the Clarets with a fantastic curling free-kick from about 25 yards.
The Reds looked bereft of ideas and it seemed as if Dyche’s men would inflict a first home defeat for United on Boxing Day in 39 years, but the introduction of Lingard at half-time turned things around.
After somehow missing from a yard out several minutes earlier, Lingard redeemed himself, pulling one back by backheeling Ashley Young’s low cross past Nick Pope, galvanising the Stretford End.
United then poured on the pressure in the final stages, looking for that all-important equaliser and it came in the first minute of added time, with Lingard drilling home after a scramble in the Burnley area.
Mourinho will be slightly happy with the comeback, but will also ponder how United managed to start so poorly against the Clarets and go two goals behind.
Here are the United player ratings:
David de Gea - 5
Little he could do for both of Burnley’s goals but one might point to his failure to command his area as a reason behind United’s poor set piece defending in recent weeks.
Ashley Young - 8
One of the few players that didn’t let themselves down in a poor first-half showing, although culpable for the free-kick leading to Burnley’s second goal. Provides genuine width and crossing ability at right-back.
Phil Jones - 5
Not helped with the hapless Rojo alongside him in the first half and looked much better in the second with Burnley barely getting forward.
Marcos Rojo - 3
Disastrous performance, capped off by the needless foul that caused the free-kick for Burnley’s first goal. Now suspended after somehow picking up five yellows despite making his first league appearance in November.
Luke Shaw - 6
Positive performance, often overlapping down the left and providing good width. Also tested Nick Pope with several shots.
Nemanja Matic - 5
Took a bit too long to release the ball at times. Improved when pushed back into a three-man defence in the second half.
Paul Pogba - 6
Tried his best to push United forward but much of what he tried failed to come off.
Juan Mata - 6
Often popped up in pockets of space between the lines to cause the Burnley defence trouble, but didn’t find the end product.
Marcus Rashford - 5
Worked hard but once again, his decision making let him down far too often. Unlucky to have a shot cleared off the line straight after Burnley scored their second.
Romelu Lukaku - 5
Tiredness is starting to show. Once again, culpable for a opposition goal due to his poor set piece defending and didn’t fare much better in front of goal at the other end.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic - 5
Difficult day. Got into some promising positions but failed to get that precise ball to take advantage of them. Hooked at half-time.
Substitutes
Jesse Lingard (8) – United’s saviour. Somehow hit Nick Pope’s face from a yard out, but redeemed himself instantly with a brilliant backheeled finish. Then came up with a low, drilled effort in injury time to save a point.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan (6) – Added some incision and verve to the United attack in the final third, but also misplaced some passes. If he cuts that out, he’ll still have an important part to play at United going forward.