Burnley vs Manchester United LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction tonight
Relive all the action from Turf Moor
Manchester United dropped out of the top four as Jay Rodriguez’s 100th career league goal - and first in 50 games - earned relegation-battling Burnley a well-deserved 1-1 draw at Turf Moor.
United dominated the first half as Paul Pogba, making his first Premier League start since his red card in the 5-0 capitulation to Liverpool in October, showed flashes of his brilliant best and fired the visitors in front with 18 minutes gone.
It was one of three times United had the ball in the Burnley net in the first half, with the other two ruled out, but momentum shifted radically in the second half after Rodriguez levelled in the 47th minute with the hosts then squandering chances to win it.
Sean Dyche will see it as a hugely encouraging point but will also know his side must soon find a way to accumulate them in threes if they are to survive - Newcastle’s win over Everton meant the gap to safety increased on the night to four points.
Ralf Rangnick left Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench in favour of Edinson Cavani, and pointedly said the decision was made because of the need to chase down Burnley and battle for second balls.
Dyche had promised to make it awkward for the visitors but, on the night that Burnley celebrated their 5,000th professional league game, they struggled to keep his word in the first half - allowing United too much time and space while gifting them possession.
The visitors had the ball in the net with 12 minutes gone at Turf Moor. Mike Dean blew for what was a soft foul at best on Pogba, and Bruno Fernandes whipped in the ball for Raphael Varane to head in at the far post.
United celebrated what they thought was a first goal from a set-piece this season but Dean was advised to check the pitch-side monitor. Though Varane was on, the goal was eventually ruled out as a clearly offside Harry Maguire had barged into Rodriguez as the ball came in.
It was only a temporary reprieve for Burnley. Six minutes later, Pogba left no room for debate as he thumped the ball high into the net from Luke Shaw’s pull-back after Burnley had allowed Marcus Rashford far too much space down the left.
The ball was in Burnley’s net again moments later as Ashley Westwood inadvertently poked home Rashford’s low cross, but it was quickly ruled out for a foul by Pogba on Erik Pieters in the build-up.
Burnley were left exposed down the right time after time, but United could not capitalise as the best of the chances was headed straight at Pope by Cavani.
Everything changed after the break. Burnley, whose last home league goal against United came back in 2009, did not have a shot in the first half but needed only two minutes of the second to level.
Weghorst did well to wriggle free of two defenders before turning and playing in Rodriguez, who held off Maguire before firing under David De Gea for his first league goal in 360 days.
The atmosphere changed in a moment, and Weghorst brought a fine save out of De Gea with a powerful strike from 20 yards before Pieters flashed a volley narrowly wide from the resulting corner.
United’s problems continued as Rodriguez span around Maguire, who hauled him back and was grateful to see only a yellow card.
After seeing Connor Roberts blaze over another decent chance, Rangnick sent for Ronaldo in the 67th minute.
United slowly regained some initiative - Varane’s cute drag-back was blocked by Mee in the 79th minute before Ronaldo headed over - but Burnley defended doggedly, roared on by Turf Moor, as they restored some faith after Saturday’s drab goalless draw with Watford.
Relive all the action from Turf Moor below:
Burnley fight back for a point as Manchester United’s woes continue
If winning without playing well was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s gift during his final days in this job, playing well without winning might be Ralf Rangnick’s curse.
Once again, Manchester United had the better of large parts of this game. Once again they went ahead. Once again, Rangnick can say that on the overall balance of play, when you tot up all the shots and possession and feed that into a win probability formula, his side deserved more.
But once again, they conceded against the run of play, failed to regain momentum and were disappointed at the final whistle. For this underwhelming stalemate in east Lancashire, see Friday’s FA Cup exit against Middlesbrough.
Burnley fight back for a point as Manchester United’s woes continue
Burnley 1-1 Manchester United: The Clarets rallied in the second half as Jay Rodriguez cancelled out Paul Pogba’s opener
Reaction from Jay Rodriguez
Burnley’s goalscorer Jay Rodriguez spoke to BT Sport after the game about the result and what it feels like to score for the first time in 49 games. He said:
Manchester United are a great side. They made it difficult for us and I think for us to get a point shows the great character of the lads.
“They had one disallowed and you are thinking it might be one those nights where you get your chance and take it.
“We took the game by the scruff of the neck in the second half.
“It has been too long! I always have that hunger and belief I will score goals and hopefully I will go on a run now.”
Burnley 1 - 1 Man Utd
Jay Rodriguez got himself back on the scoresheet to earn Burnley a draw against Manchester United at Turf Moor.
Burnley 1 - 1 Man Utd
Good game and a fair result too. Manchester United were the better team in the first half but got stung shortly after the restart and conceded another goal.
In the second half the Red Devils couldn’t replicate that first half performance and could have gone behind if it wasn’t for David De Gea. Despite calling on the reinforcements of Cristiano Ronaldo, Jesse Lingard and Anthony Elanga, Manchester United still couldn’t force a winner and had to settle for the draw.
Full-time: Burnley 1 - 1 Man Utd
90+3 mins: The points are shared at Turf Moor! It’s a big point for Burnley as they look to get themselves out of the relegation zone. They’re still bottom of the table but have closed the gap on Watford ahead of them.
The other results tonight mean Manchester United drop out of the top four despite avoiding defeat. The race for the Champions League spots is so close that draws can feel like dropped points.
Burnley 1 - 1 Man Utd
90 mins: Three minutes of added time to play. Will we see a winning goal?
Burnley 1 - 1 Man Utd
89 mins: Jay Rodriguez gets a big round of applause from the Burnley fans as he is subbed off for Ashley Barnes. Elanga drives into the box with the ball and slots it over to Ronaldo. He lays it off to Shaw who whips a cross to the back post. Sancho is waiting but it goes over his head. He manages to recover it and feed it to Fernandes. His cross into the box is then blocked by Pieters.
Burnley 1 - 1 Man Utd
86 mins: Burnley haven’t given up thoughts of victory. They’re utilising Roberts on the right side but his attempts to cross the ball into the box have been blocked by Shaw.
Anthony Elanga replaces Marcus Rashford for Manchester United. What a story it would be if he were to score the winner after missing his penalty against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup last Friday.
Burnley 1 - 1 Man Utd
83 mins: Ralf Rangnick is going for the win. Jesse Lingard comes on to replace Scott McTominay. We’re into the final 10 minutes at Turf Moor, can United force a winner, will Burnley hold or to a draw or can the Clarets score another one? All three results are possible here.
Shaw brings the ball down the left and plays it inside to Fernandes. He picks out Ronaldo who passes it across the pitch to Lingard. Lingard leaves it to Dalot but his cross back into the box is overhit and goes out for a throw in.
Burnley 1 - 1 Man Utd
80 mins: The free kick results in another Man Utd corner that Shaw whips into the box. Pieters is at the near post to head it away yet again but Fernandes quickly recovers possession. He feeds it over to Rashford on the left wing who drives into the box and squares it to Varane. He backheels a shot but Mee sticks out a leg and turns it wide of goal.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies