Burnley vs Man Utd live: Sesko brace not enough as visitors held at Turf Moor
Burnley 2-2 Manchester United: Red Devils held by relegation candidates in first match since end of turbulent Ruben Amorim era
Manchester United were held 2-2 at Burnley in a match which emphasised the challenges facing the Red Devils’ next manager after Ruben Amorim’s dramatic departure earlier this week.
United wasted some golden chances and looked unconvicing in the first half, falling behind thanks to an own goal by Ayden Heaven as an attempted clearance looped over keeper Senne Lammens.
19th-placed Burnley weathered a storm late in the first half but Benjamin Sesko looked to put United in control, scoring twice to double his goal tally for the season - and scoring as many for interim manager Darren Fletcher as he did under Amorim.
But substitute Jaidon Anthony lashed home a stunning euqaliser for Burnley against the run of play, while Clarets keeper Martin Dubravka produced some excellent saves as Fletcher was frustrated in his first match in charge.
The result leaves Burnley 12 matches without a win and rooted in the relegation zone, while United wasted another chance to move up to fourth, falling to seventh as Newcastle leapfrogged them.
Follow all the action from the Premier League with our live blog below:
Manchester United show signs of life under Darren Fletcher but same old problems remain
Hopefully, Darren Fletcher had said, his team would look like a Manchester United side.
They did. There was much to recognise from the brand of United Fletcher knew in his playing days. A side with a back four and spirit mounted a comeback. There was the sort of attacking football United had hoped to see under Ruben Amorim. There was a big-money signing delivering goals, a United academy product showing promise. There was a soundtrack rooted firmly in history, too, celebrating United’s old heroes.
Unfortunately for Fletcher, the result was rooted in the present, with more points dropped in a winnable fixture. Amorim’s last game was a draw against a promoted club. So was Fletcher’s first. In Amorim’s penultimate match, United drew with the side then on the longest winless run in the division, in Wolves. That mantle has passed to Burnley and they held duly United. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss?
Manchester United show signs of life under Darren Fletcher but old problems remain
Premier League results tonight
Here’s the full list of results for this evening then:
- Bournemouth 3-2 Tottenham
- Brentford 3-0 Sunderland
- Crystal Palace 0-0 Aston Villa
- Everton 1-1 Wolves
- Fulham 2-1 Chelsea
- Man City 1-1 Brighton
- Burnley 2-2 Man Utd
- Newcastle 4-3 Leeds
Tim Sherwood brands Benjamin Sesko ‘not good enough for Man Utd’ despite striker’s brace against Burnley
Former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood has branded Benjamin Sesko“not good enough for Manchester United” in a bizarre tirade after the Slovenian striker scored a brace against Burnley at Turf Moor.
Sesko, who joined United in a deal worth £73m in the summer, was disappointing in the first half at Turf Moor but exploded into life in the second half, scoring a brace within 10 minutes to turn the game around before Jaidon Anthony sealed a 2-2 draw for the hosts.
However, Sherwood was not impressed, explaining that he would have “had him [Sesko] off the pitch at half-time”.
Sherwood brands Sesko ‘not good enough for Man Utd’ despite brace against Burnley
Parker: 'There's definitely belief'
Burnley boss Scott Parker had this to say after full-time:
"I demanded a reaction [after the Brighton defeat] and every one of the players wanted that reaction as well. So we come off the back of a result at the weekend where we were hugely critical, me as well to the group, and the players as well,” he explained.
“We let ourselves down at the weekend in a certain element that we need to bring to a game of football in the Premier League and we did that tonight.
"We start the game well. We get our noses in front and from there going 2-1 down, the reaction after that was superb really. Pleased with a point and we move on, a big point for us.
"There's definitely belief, for sure there is. There's been some tough times and of course that's been the way it's been and I see a pure belief in the team tonight,” he added as he finished.
Fletcher: Sesko 'a real positive'
On Benjamin Sesko's goals, Fletcher added: "I was so happy for him. I spoke to him yesterday and we presented a video showing his movement and showing his goals, just showing how it is coming and he needs to keep believing and the players need to get more service to him. He did that tonight and scored two great goals. A real positive night for Ben.
"He had other opportunities, a header, another snapshot. The team is disappointed with a point but in terms of a personal level hopefully he can kick on from that now."
Fletcher: 'A massive disappointment'
Manchester United interim boss Darren Fletcher spoke to BBC Match of the Day after full-time, and called the result “a massive disappointment”.
“If you look at the context of the game, the chances we created, goal-line clearances, a disallowed goal, 30 shots, lots of attacking play. We created more than enough to win the game so obviously it is disappointing when you only come away with a point,” he explained.
On the disallowed goal, he said: "It just looked like normal things that happen at every corner so it's surprising that decision was given. If you look at the context of the Premier League this season and the physicality that goes into set pieces, I have seen way worse on almost every set piece, so I am massively surprised the referee has got involved there, it's something we have to accept but there was a lot of frustration."
Fletcher in charge for Brighton match
Darren Fletcher has confirmed that he will take charge of United for the FA Cup match against Brighton this weekend.
Sesko: 'It’s hard for us'
United scorer Benjamin Sesko spoke to Sky after full-time. Here’s what he had to say:
“First of all, it’s hard for us. We were fighting, giving our best, trying to find ways to score. Unfortunately we concede a second goal, but we have to keep going.
“It’s easier for me but it’s important for the team that I can help that way [by scoring], it’s my job at the end of the day. We have to keep moving from here.
“It’s important to try to come to chances over and over again. We created a lot of chances, so we just have to keep pushing.
“It’s never easy when you lose a manager but now it;s iup to us to stay together as a group. In the end it’s important to focus on upcoming training and games,” he adds as he finishes.
Neville: 'United keep missing opportunities'
Gary Neville reflected on a disappointing result for United after the full-time whistle.
"Manchester United were better in the second half but they will be really disappointed with the second goal. They have to defend it better,” says the former United defender.
"It is another two points dropped against teams near the bottom of the league. They have dropped so many points in the last few weeks,
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