Burnley vs Manchester United. Premier League.
Turf MoorAttendance21,525.
Highlights and report as first-half Lukaku double sees off Burnley despite Marcus Rashford's red card
Monday 3 September 2018 07:58, UK
Romelu Lukaku scored twice as 10-man Manchester United returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Burnley at Turf Moor.
United looked on course for a routine victory when Lukaku headed them ahead on 27 minutes and doubled their tally with a close-range second a minute before half-time.
But after Paul Pogba had a second-half penalty saved by Joe Hart, United had to play the final 19 minutes a man down when Marcus Rashford was shown a straight red card for head-butting Phil Bardsley.
However, three days on from their agonising Europa League exit against Olympiakos, Burnley showed little sign of mounting a late comeback, Sam Vokes' header stoppage-time header all the Clarets could muster by way of a response.
Instead, United ground out the win - which lifts them to 10th in the table - to ease the pressure on beleaguered manager Jose Mourinho. Burnley remain second from bottom after their third successive defeat.
United's fluid front three of Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez and Jesse Lingard tormented Burnley in the opening exchanges, with the fleet-footed England international creating two clear opening inside 10 minutes.
With barely two minutes on the clock, Lingard wriggled clear of the Clarets centre-backs but flashed a shot wide of the post - eight minutes later he curled an effort from the edge of the box over.
Lingard remained a threat but it was his strike partners that combined for United's opener as Sanchez was allowed to pick out Lukaku with a cross from the left, and the Belgium international headed his second goal of the season beyond Hart from six yards.
It was no more than United deserved and they could have had a second had it not been for Hart, who raced off his line to smother Lukaku on 36 minutes - but it was not long until the Burnley goalkeeper's defences were breached again.
Lingard was involved again as his shot ricocheted around the Burnley area, striking Ben Mee and the head of Ashley Westwood before falling perfectly for the lurking Lukaku, who slotted home to double United's lead on 44 minutes.
With United meandering to victory, the game burst into life on 68 minutes as substitute Rashford drew a foul from Aaron Lennon in the area, but Pogba's penalty after his now-trademark run-up was parried away by Hart.
Things took a turn for the worse for United three minutes later when Rashford was given his marching orders by referee Jon Moss for reacting angrily to a Bardsley tackle and throwing his head into the face of the Burnley defender.
But despite Burnley's best effort, United had a measure of control despite falling down to 10 men and saw out the victory with relative ease, Vokes' glancing header the closest the Clarets came to reducing the arrears.
Sean Dyche: "Well, I think we're finding our feet a bit. They've had a lot of challenges these players. Its game 10 for us of a squad of roughly 17 at any given time. We were down to 16 on Thursday and that's a lot of football for anyone in this early part of the season. It's still physically a task. This two-week period now gives us a chance to rest and work, but certainly refresh ourselves for the challenge which is the Premier League."
Jose Mourinho: "The three points were an important thing, the quality of the performance and happiness of the team is an Old Trafford response - the way Old Trafford reacted to the boys in the Spurs defeat was important. Today the fans were fantastic from the first minute, but Old Trafford is a moment to remember."
Mourinho has really been up against after United's worst start to a Premier League season since 1992. But just when his manager needed it most, Lukaku rekindled his touch in front of goal. The Belgian's first league brace since his United debut in the competition back in August 2017 put the visitors in control, and gave Mourinho something to cheer about after a fortnight of angst at Old Trafford.
Both sides resume their Premier League campaign after the international break. On September 15, United travel to Watford (5.30pm), while Burnley make the trip to newly-promoted Wolves the following day (1.30pm), live on Sky Sports Premier League.
