Manchester United began a new era at Turf Moor on Wednesday, led by interim head coach Darren Fletcher on two days’ notice after the sacking of Ruben Amorim, and put together an entertaining effort. It
may not have been a winning effort, but it was not a cowardly effort. There was intention going forward, there was change where needed to find new avenues of attack, and there was a sense of confidence to attack and press the opposition.
The team found new life up front, with Benjamin Sesko leading the line of a 4-2-3-1 setup and capitalizing on a plethora of chances in front of goal.
Burnley took the lead on a deflected freak own goal after Ayden Heaven had to close down an open runner in behind Diogo Dalot. Heaven’s touch on the cross deflected the ball high and over the head of Senne Lammens to put the hosts in front.
It looked as though United equalized just before the half-hour mark, with Lisandro Martinez turning a loose ball into the net after a corner kick, but the goal was waved off by the referee for a foul in buildup play. Martinez was wrestling with Kyle Walker before the initial cross, and Walker ended up on the ground. A quick VAR review failed to overturn the referee’s decision, and play went on.
The Reds finally showed some attacking teeth in the second half, with Benjamin Sesko shaking a dreadful first half with a first-time finish for 1-1. His run in behind was rewarded by Bruno Fernandes with a perfect through-pass, and the Slovenian striker fired quickly past Dubravka to level the match.
It came as part of a change in shape at halftime, moving Matheus Cunha central while Bruno Fernandes went to the right, and the positioning would cause the hosts further problems in the half.
Bruno had a good chance himself just minutes later. A ball over the top was taken with one touch and then fired, with his strike whacking against the upright at the near post. A corner kick moments later was met at the same post, and fired wide by Heaven.
The confidence was swelling in the United group, who had come out looking re-energized after a difficult first half, and the changes continued to positively effect the match
The second goal came around the hour mark, with Patrick Dorgu firing a cross from left wing in towards Sesko. Again the Slovenian finished first time, showing a profoundly different level of confidence from some of his strikes in the first half by calmly placing the cross into the bottom right corner.
Burnley needed a reply and found it through a spectacular shot from Jaidon Anthony in the 66th minute. It followed a change in possession, which United invited some pressure, but the quality of the hit from distance can’t be denied. What should be noted is that Anthony could have been pressured more, and not allowed onto his stronger foot.
The second half changes continued to come. First, Bruno was taken off on his return from injury, with Mason Mount making his return. Then it was Kobbie Mainoo’s turn, arriving alongside Joshua Zirkzee in place of Casemiro and Cunha. Defensively, Leny Yoro came on to relieve Heaven for the final 15 minutes.
The pressure kept going for United, but it was a noticeable difference without Bruno on the pitch. Still, the effort of Benjamin Sesko was night and day from previous performances. He recorded six shots on target through 80 minutes, and nearly recorded a hat trick in the 81st minute with his seventh, only to be denied by Dubravka on a shot on the turn.
The final change for United saw Shea Lacey make his second Premier League appearance, and he nearly repaid Fletcher’s trust with his first look at goal. He cut in from the right and fired a curling effort with his left, cruelly hitting the crossbar with Dubravka beaten.
He had one more look in the final minute of stoppage time, likely shooting from too far out, and missed to the right of goal.
As the Reds got into the stoppage time, the chances and possession kept going, and there was no complacency as there was in past draws this season. The urgency was there, but ultimately the winning goal was not.
The Reds will go again on Sunday in the FA Cup against Brighton & Hove Albion.
