The last time these sides met, there was a lack of goalmouth action and Louis van Gaal endured a rather frustrating afternoon at Turf Moor as the game finished 0-0.
Since then, there’s been plenty of huff and puff about this United side and results have been solid, if unspectacular. One defeat from their last seventeen games but their last outing against West Ham led to criticism of a long-ball system. Van Gaal’s riposte has been well documented elsewhere.
He’ll want his team to make a firm statement tonight.
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Good evening everyone. Welcome to our coverage of Manchester United’s clash with Burnley.
First thing’s first. Let’s get to the line-ups.
Man Utd: De Gea, McNair, Jones, Evans, Rojo, Blind, Rooney, Januzaj, Di Maria, van Persie, Falcao.
Subs: Mata, Smalling, Ander Herrera, Valencia, Fellaini, Valdes, Wilson.
Burnley: Heaton, Trippier, Keane, Shackell, Mee, Kightly, Arfield, Jones, Boyd, Barnes, Ings.
Subs: Lafferty, Duff, Wallace, Vokes, Reid, Jutkiewicz, Gilks.
So, Louis Van Gaal makes two changes from the side that drew 1-1 with West Ham. Fresh from having signed a new deal with the club, Northern Irishman Paddy McNair gets another start while Jonny Evans also slots back in.
Luke Shaw, serving a suspension after that late red against the Hammers, misses out while Antonio Valencia drops to the bench.
Some special guests at OT tonight…
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Just the one change for Burnley, by the way. Michael Kightly, who I really liked in his spell at Wolves, comes in for the injured Dean Marney.
LVG’s latest press conference was a gift for the UK media but it’s an interesting conversation for football fans.
A big difference between long balls (punts looking for a big target man) and long passes.
Anyone who has watched United throughout this season will know it’s a possession-based system that Van Gaal deploys. It’s that system that has seen many accuse the performances of being boring and lacking fizz.
They’ve ventured down the path of long crosses into the area when they’ve badly needed to rescue something. Much like what Sir Alex Ferguson’s sides did. It’s the quickest route to goal. And, it’s got Van Gaal results – against West Ham and West Brom earlier in the campaign.
Personally, I think Van Gaal is being criticised because of performance levels and a general lack of ‘the United way’. Which is harsh.
This is funny.
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Even the most passionate Van Gaal supporter would agree that this type of stat is a huge concern.
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We’re almost underway here…Predictions everyone?
I’d be surprised if it’s true but many speculating Rooney will continue on the right of a midfield diamond for United here…
AND WE’RE UNDERWAY!
Januzaj pops up at the tip of the diamond and Di Maria is wide-left. Interesting. Meanwhile, an early corner for Burnley…
VERY CLOSE! Burnley should be in front here. From the corner, it’s ex-United player Michael Keane who gets in front of Jones, and completely miscues his header. If he had connected properly, it was in the net. It looks like Jones may have tweaked something too and Chris Smalling is already keeping an eye on things.
GOAL! Chris Smalling! United in front. From the corner, the substitute (on for Jones seconds ago), nods it to the net.
Well, that happened quickly!
United took no chances with the Jones’ injury and when Burnley failed to clear the initial corner, Smalling was in the right place to send it across Heaton to the far corner.
CLOSE! Another great chance for Burnley as Kightly races clear of the United defence and bears down on De Gea. He tries to open up his body and roll it across the Spaniard but it’s too close to the goalkeeper who makes the block.
GOAL! Danny Ings! From the right-wing cross, the striker gets away from Smalling and sends the diving header past De Gea.
CLOSE! What a response from Burnley. They should’ve been on the score-sheet after good chances for Keane and Kightly but Smalling was badly caught out for the equaliser. Meanwhile, Ings tests De Gea again after the corner drops to him in the area. The keeper stops with his legs.
CLOSE! Chris Smalling needs to get his head in the game here. He loses Ings again after a simple run into the channel. The striker pulls it back for Ashley Barnes – his curler to the near post is narrowly wide.
Burnley have been excellent in the opening 23 minutes here. Again, United have slected a formation to get the best from their offensive players but little in the way of creativity so far. Watching Rooney in a faux-wide role is very, very strange.
United waste a free-kick in a good position and immediately Burnley counter with Ings proving a constant thorn here. He can’t really get a shot away and United get it clear, just about. Meanwhile, Blind had been off receiving some treatment after a knock to the head but he’s back on.
And Burnley have forced another corner here. Pressure mounting on United who are creaking…
It’s Shackell who rises highest but it’s too high. Smalling had a decent grip on Keane’s shirt as that corner was whipped in. He’s had an…interesting first half.
A cameo from Falcao moments ago when he cheaply surrendered possession. That partnership with Van Persie is lamentable.
Certainly United need to stretch this Burnley defence. It’s been far too one-dimensional from the home side so far.
This is great from the guests. Ings has run United ragged in the opening period. He picks it up about 40 yards from goal, spins looks up and feeds Trippier wide right. From the cross, Barnes tries to direct his header to the net but it’s too high.
SUBSTITUTION! Herrera (on) – Blind (off)
The Dutchman is clearly feeling the effects of that collision earlier in the half and United aren’t taking any risks. Herrera, who we’ve seen little of in recent weeks, has his chance to impress.
Smalling is like Bambi on ice here. Everytime the ball drops anywhere near him, a mistake is following moments later. Firstly, he fails to read another basic run from Ings and then he waits an absolute age for De Gea to deal with a ball over the top when he should’ve just taken zero chances and thumped it clear instead.
CLOSE! Lovely ball from Kightly and Barnes attacks the left channel. He tries to take it on the half-volley but the effort squirms off the outside of his left boot and wide of the near post.
GOAL! Chris Smalling! A second for the defender as he rises highest at the far post to glance past Tom Heaton!
AND THAT’S HALF-TIME!
I had been in the middle of typing that United’s biggest worry was that they only had one change left after losing both Jones and Blind earlier in the half. And then after forcing a corner, Rooney and Di Maria combined, the Argentine swept over a brilliant cross and Smalling did the rest.
They have been second best but somehow are in front. The Clarets have had 10 attempts on goal though United have had 3 shots on goal, all on target and scored twice.
A gorgeous cross from Di Maria for Smalling’s second. But in open play, United have been thoroughly dominated. Not sure what Sean Dyche can say to his players at the break. They’ve been superb and are now 2-1 down.
AND WE’RE BACK!
VERY CLOSE! Dear. Me. What a shambles from United. Ings lays off to the on-rushing Boyd who taps it across goal. Smalling inexplicably allows the ball go past him as he’s distracted by a team-mate in front of him and Ings must score! But he hits it straight at De Gea and United get bodies back eventually. What a chance.
I’ve seen a bit of Ings this season but he’s been terrific tonight. If United win this, his spurned opportunity will haunt him. But it shouldn’t take too much from a really impressive individual performance.
YELLOW CARD! Di Maria, picks the ball up, spots plenty of space in front of him and attacks it. What a novelty. He’s brought down by Ben Mee, who gets a yellow card for his troubles.
The Colombian set up Smalling’s first goal but has been really ineffective ultimately.
YELLOW CARD! Pretty comical as Rojo blasts the ball at Van Persie and the attacker ends up on the ground. Sums up his evening. Doesn’t look sharp at all. Meanwhile, Rooney has gone in the book after taking down Ings.
PENALTY CLAIM! Smalling gets out in front and lays off. It’s worked quickly to Di Maria who races towards the Burnley area. He dodges one challenge and there’s some space. He looks like he’s going to go down, then stays on his feet but as a challenge from Mee comes in, he does hit the deck. Referee Kevin Friend had a long look but waved play on.
Van Persie gets turned, opens up and spreads it wide for Di Maria. He really needed to cross first time but holds it up instead. The chance goes but United have upped the tempo and are dominating. Burnley are wilting just a bit here.
There’s been a replay of that Di Maria penalty claim. He doesn’t go down under contact from one challenge but Mee did nothing wrong and tipped the ball to safety when the Argentine eventually hit the turf.
YELLOW CARD! Falcao getting plenty of Twitter love tonight. He’s also just got a booking.
As we mentioned earlier in the blog, the Glazers are at Old Trafford, sitting alongside Ed Woodward. The latter was spotted on his own phone. Presumably texting Jorge Mendes to say: ‘There’s no way Falcao is joining on a permanent deal’.
SUBSTITUTION! Wilson (on) – Falcao (off)
Ineffective and unimpressive, the Colombian makes way for the youngster. United can play on the break here and use Wilson’s pace to stretch things.
It’s a bit of a footnote but having watched him struggle at various times in his first season, Marcos Rojo has been very solid for United tonight.
McNair passes backwards and keeps possession. United fans start to boo. The next pass from the back is a hopeless one & easily intercepted. The United fans applause. It’s a fickle game.
PENALTY! On the breakaway, Di Maria is taken down by Arfield and that’s a definite pen.
GOAL! Van Persie (pen)! He’s been largely anonymous but he steps up and sends Heaton the wrong way. Wrapped up the win for United here.
He tucked it away well but another flattering result for Louis van Gaal’s side here.
VERY CLOSE! McNair gets to the by-line and cuts it back. Di Maria gets to it and drives in a shot that Heaton beats away. The rebound breaks for Januzaj, who arrows a strike to the bottom corner but Burnley desperately get a block in and it’s stopped on the line.
There’s going to be four minutes of injury time. United should strangle the game here with minimum effort.
SUBSTITUTION! Jutkiewicz (on) – Barnes (off)
Final throw of the dice from Dyche but the change could really have been made about 5 minutes ago. Only seconds left, really.
VERY CLOSE! And Wilson almost grabs another for United when he’s slipped through in the left channel. But his strike hits the side-netting instead.
AND THAT’S IT! United were much better in the second half but another scrappy performance from them.
A strange game, really. United were in front at the break when they really shouldn’t have been. But thanks to two goals from early substitute Chris Smalling (his first seconds after being introduced), they were certainly overjoyed heading to the break.
After the restart, the hosts were better and got their best players involved. But what a chance there was for Danny Ings early in the period when Smalling’s error allowed him a shot at goal from just a few yards. He put it straight at De Gea and Burnley never forced another similar opportunity for the remainder of the half.
Van Persie may have scored but didn’t look sharp at all while his strike partner Falcao ensured tonight that his stay in Manchester will be brief.
For all their problems though, United are 3rd in the table and just 5 points from Manchester City.
Thanks for staying with us tonight. Plenty of Premier League reaction on the site throughout the night.
