Lingard salvages a point for United late on
Jesse Lingard was Manchester United's hero on Tuesday as he came off the bench to score twice as United came from behind to draw with Burnley at Old Trafford.
Jose Mourinho was full of praise for Sean Dyche’s side pre-match and Burnley lived up to his praise by taking a shock early lead at Old Trafford.
Johan Berg Gudmunsson’s free kick from the left wasn’t cleared and the ball dropped at the feet of Ashley Barnes, deputising for the injured Chris Wood, who tucked away the loose ball on the turn.
Things almost got worse for United just minutes later as Scott Arfield cushioned a volley onto the crossbar after meeting a cross from the right.
United started to attack with purpose at this point as Luke Shaw saw a powerful low drive palmed away by Nick Pope, before the keeper did well once again to deny Paul Pogba’s header from a corner.
However, despite United enjoying the bulk of the possession, it was the visitors who managed to score the famed 'all-important' second goal.
It was some goal as well, with midfielder Steven Defour curling home a free kick from fully 30 yards. It was a fine strike, with David De Gea in the home goal left powerless to stop it.
The hosts almost got back into the game immediately as Marcus Rashford saw an effort cleared off the line by Ben Mee, before Pogba curled an effort millimeters wide of Pope’s left-hand post. but they went into the break with a two-goal deficit.
Eager to make sure it didn’t stay that way for long, Jose Mourinho made several changes at half-time. Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Jesse Lingard came on for Marcos Rojo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with Nemanja Matic slotting in at centre-half.
Those changes almost paid immediate dividends but Lingard contrived to fluff his lines from close range following Ashley Young’s low cross from the right.
However, the England man wasn’t made to rue his miss for too long as he gave United hope with 53 minutes on the clock.
Once again, Young was given space to cross from the right and Lingard audaciously flicked his low centre into the far corner with his back-heel.
Romelu Lukaku should have done better with an hour gone as he sent a pull-back from the right back from whence it came with the goal at his mercy as United struggled to break down the ‘Clarets’.
In the end, a set-piece proved Burnley's undoing, with Lingard on hand to lash home after a spot of penalty box pinball in added-on time as United claimed a share of the spoils.
The result means Manchester City can go 15 points clear at the top of the Prpemier League when they face Newcastle on Wednesday.