Match ends, Burnley 0, Manchester United 2.
BurnleyBurnley0Man UtdManchester United2
Wayne Rooney scored his first goal since January as Manchester United kept up the chase for the top four in the Premier League with victory at Burnley.
Rooney's second league start of the year was one of eight changes made by United manager Jose Mourinho after Thursday's Europa League win over Anderlecht.
The England captain started the impressive counter-attack which led to Anthony Martial's opener, and squeezed the ball home from a tight angle to double United's lead before half-time.
Andre Gray had Burnley's best chance of the first half when his shot was blocked by defender Eric Bailly, but Sean Dyche's side failed to register a shot on target.
It means United remain fifth in the league but are only a point off rivals Manchester City, whom they face on Thursday at Etihad Stadium.
Burnley have now won only once in 11 matches and are five points off the relegation zone in 16th.
The goal which cost Man United £8.5m
After season-ending injuries to striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and defender Marcos Rojo, Mourinho was forced to shuffle his pack again.
And, with one eye on the Manchester derby, he left Thursday's hero Marcus Rashford on the bench.
Martial returned to the attack alongside Rooney and Jesse Lingard and played a part in both first-half goals.
The Frenchman sprinted forward after being sent on his way by Rooney, and after a delicate lay-off from Ander Herrera, Martial swept the ball past Tom Heaton in the Burnley goal.
It was Martial's 25th goal for the club and a clause in his contract, which he signed last year, means United will now have to pay an extra £8.5m to his former team Monaco.
Rooney makes it 251
Rooney became Manchester United's all-time record goalscorer in January against Stoke but has been made to wait three months for goal number 251.
He completed a full 90 minutes of league action for the first time since September and enjoyed a productive partnership with Martial.
Having played a part in United's opener, Rooney scuffed home the second goal of the match from a few yards out after Martial's shot was well blocked by Heaton.
It crept over the line, and goal-line technology confirmed it was legitimate, although it may have taken a slight deflection off the leg of Burnley defender Michael Keane.
All filler and no killer from Burnley
Burnley have a home record to be proud of this season, with 32 of their 36 points won at Turf Moor.
But they are still without an away win, and that has contributed to their now precarious league position.
The Clarets certainly started the better side against United, but lacked finesse in the final third.
Other than Gray's effort in the first half, their most productive spell came in the final 10 minutes when Keane headed across goal from a free-kick and substitute Daniel Agyei placed his right-footed snap-shot past the post.
Man United's unbeaten run continues
- Man Utd are unbeaten in their last 23 Premier League games (W13 D10). It is the longest unbeaten run by a Premier League team within a single season since 2010-11, when they went 24 games without losing.
- Burnley failed to land a shot on target in a Premier League home game for only the second time in their history.
- Only Alan Shearer (190) has scored in more different Premier League games than Wayne Rooney (149 - level with Frank Lampard and Andy Cole).
- Anthony Martial has both scored and assisted in a Premier League away game for the first time in his career.
- Ander Herrera has provided six assists in the Premier League this term, as many as in his previous two campaigns combined.
Man of the match - Anthony Martial (Manchester United)
Manager reaction
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho: "I'm very happy. It's not easy to win here and it's even harder to be in control and we were in control for 90 minutes.
"We understood the way they play and we played against their strengths. I think it was a great result that we deserved."
Burnley manager Sean Dyche: "They are very strong, tactically, technically and with game knowledge. We huffed and puffed and stuck at it. They scored two poor goals from our point of view, we have to make a foul on the first one.
"I am pleased with the mentality of the second half. They killed the game. That is the reality of playing some of the top sides. You can't always get above where you are."
What's next?
Burnley travel to Crystal Palace in the late kick-off next Saturday (17:30 BST) while Manchester United make the cross-city trip to Manchester City on Thursday (20:00 BST)
Line-ups
Burnley
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Heaton
- 2LowtonBooked at 65mins
- 5Keane
- 6MeeSubstituted forTarkowskiat 45'minutes
- 23Ward
- 21BoydSubstituted forGudmundssonat 62'minutes
- 19Barton
- 13HendrickBooked at 88mins
- 12Brady
- 7Gray
- 10BarnesSubstituted forAgyeiat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Flanagan
- 16Defour
- 18Westwood
- 25Gudmundsson
- 26Tarkowski
- 29Pope
- 32Agyei
Man Utd
Formation 4-3-3
- 1de Gea
- 18Young
- 3Bailly
- 17Blind
- 36Darmian
- 21Herrera
- 27Fellaini
- 6PogbaSubstituted forCarrickat 90'minutes
- 14LingardSubstituted forRashfordat 70'minutes
- 11MartialSubstituted forMkhitaryanat 80'minutes
- 10RooneyBooked at 78mins
Substitutes
- 16Carrick
- 19Rashford
- 20Romero
- 22Mkhitaryan
- 23Shaw
- 24Fosu-Mensah
- 38Tuanzebe
- Referee:
- Anthony Taylor
- Attendance:
- 21,870
Match Stats
Home TeamBurnleyAway TeamMan Utd
- Possession
- Home46%
- Away54%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home0
- Away6
- Corners
- Home3
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home17
- Away16
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Burnley 0, Manchester United 2.
Post update
Attempt missed. Daniel Agyei (Burnley) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Robbie Brady.
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Attempt missed. Daniel Agyei (Burnley) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Robbie Brady.
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Attempt blocked. Robbie Brady (Burnley) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester United. Michael Carrick replaces Paul Pogba because of an injury.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Paul Pogba (Manchester United) because of an injury.
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Attempt missed. Paul Pogba (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Wayne Rooney.
Booking
Jeff Hendrick (Burnley) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Attempt missed. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
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Paul Pogba (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by James Tarkowski (Burnley).
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Eric Bailly (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Daniel Agyei (Burnley).
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Foul by Marcus Rashford (Manchester United).
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Michael Keane (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Post update
Paul Pogba (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by James Tarkowski (Burnley).
Comments
Join the conversation
It's funny. When liverpool lost at turf moor it was because "Burnley are one of hardest to beat at home" but when Utd beat them it's because Burnley are "poor".
Please explain what happens then. Burnley won the championship and therefore gained promotion. So do they have to ask your permission to go up? I know you are a big head, but remember babies think the world revolves around them.
Our attack is much more dynamic with players like Martial and Rashford up front.
Arsenal 2 Manchester City 1
Liverpool 1 Crystal palace 2
Oh what a beautiful morning
Oh what a beautiful day
I've got a beautiful feeling
Liverpool got done in today.
😀😁😂😃😄😅😆😉
All teams have off days,
Should Bournemouth be demoted with Palace for not being big enough?
Look at how many so called Premier teams have failed to beat Burnley this season! While the bottm teams can shock the top teams, they are important. Just look on the continent where leagues are dominated by an elite on or two. No shocks, no excitement and hence low TV deals!
Awaiting the ABU's to tell us all otherwise.
😂😂😂😂
Not so magic without the best players in Europe at his disposal
Time for another snide sponsorship deal to raise the 100s of millions he needs to be regarded as the best manager ever
Another season without silverware for Citeh and the scousers.
Please if there is a god
Make it happen