EPL: Man United clinch vital win over Burnley

Manchester United picked up a crucial win against Burnley at Old Trafford to move within four points of the Premier League top four.

Ralph Rangnick, however, would be concerned with the moments of madness that were prevalent in Manchester United’s play last night.

A team other than a depleted, relegation battling Burnley side might have punished them for the holes opening up in their midfield during attacks and defensive disarrays at times.

Familiar defensive woes for United

It was Burnley who got the first chance of the night as Chris Wood headed wide from a Matthew Lowton cross.

David de Gea would have been furious with his left-back Luke Shaw had that ball gone in since the 26-year-old allowed Lowton to run freely along the left flank to put in a dangerous cross.

The hosts could not afford a repetition of their weekend display at Saint James Park to stay within close distance of their top four competitors, especially on a night when the Old Trafford stands unfurled banners celebrating the birthday of the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson.  

McTominay shines

Cristiano Ronaldo also fired wide before setting up, unintentionally though, United’s first goal of the night. 

Scott McTominay, who had one of his finest midfield displays in his career last night, picked up the scraps as Ronaldo failed to control a Mason Greenwood pass.

After going a goal up, Luke Shaw hit the side net minutes later.

Jadon Sancho than became the architect of the second United goal.

He cut in and fired a low shot towards the Burnley goal that took a defection off the stretching legs of Ben Mee and went past Wayne Hennessey, who was playing in first Premier League match in one and a half year, into the Clarets net. 

Ronaldo makes it 3-0

Eight minutes later, Ronaldo guided home a rebound to make the scoreline 3-0 in favour of the Red Devils within the opening 35 minutes.

Burnley were trying to hit United from the flanks and they finally succeeded in doing so when Aaron Lennon stole the ball from Eric Bailly and beat David de Gea 1v1 to make it 3-1.

Greenwood and Cavani both tested Hennessey, but the Welshman did well to deny them both. 

The second half was more of a mundane affair, compared to the high-tempo first half football.

United kept hold of the ball, but barely did anything meaningful with it.

Burnley, on the other hand, could not threaten the United backline much, but almost scored a second in stoppage time but James Tarkowski could not make the best out of his chance. 

Manchester United are now sixth on the table, four points adrift of Arsenal at fourth.

Burnley occupy the top spot in the relegation zone but they have four matches in hand and will hope to utilize them to crawl out of the drop zone.