Burnley 2-2 Manchester United

Heaven (13′ og) Anthony (66′)  Sesko (50′, 60′)

A stunning Jaidon Anthony strike secured struggling Burnley a point against Manchester United, who had momentarily taken the lead through a Benjamin Sesko double.

The visitors created numerous chances in the first period, but Burnley took the lead with a stroke of luck.

Bashir Humphreys escaped from Casemiro down the Burnley left. After aiming his left-footed cross towards the penalty box, the ball took a massive deflection off United youngster Ayden Heaven. The defender’s meek effort to block the cross looped over the helpless Senne Lammens and into his own net.

Despite the setback, Fletcher’s side improved and had the ball in the net on the half-hour mark. Lisandro Martinez fired past Martin Dubravka in a busy penalty box, but was adjudged to have handled Kyle Walker in the penalty box, pushing the former Man City defender to the ground.

Brilliant Burnley defending kept the hosts’ slender lead at the break, with Bashir Humphreys and Maxime Esteve desperately clearing two efforts off the line. The latter was United’s best chance of the half, Bruno Fernandes released Patrick Dorgu into the Burnley box, but after chipping over the onrushing Martin Dubravka, Esteve delivered a vital clearance.

Fletcher’s halftime words created an immediate impact, as they levelled in the 50th minute. Fernandes picked up a dangerous pocket on the right edge of the Burnley box. The Portuguese midfielder showed tremendous vision to roll Sesko through on goal, whose right-footed strike rippled Dubravka’s bottom corner, delighting the large travelling support.

The Slovenian added his second of the game on the hour mark. He showed confidence to side-foot Dorgu’s pinpoint cross from the left past Dubravka from 12 yards. The goal was a moment of great quality, from the accuracy of the ball to the crispness of Sesko’s volley.

Despite turning the game in their favour, United were made to pay for more dismal defending. Substitute Anthony easily moved away from Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez in the box, before unleashing a darting left-footed strike into the top corner.

The draw leaves Burnley eight points from safety, whilst Fletcher’s United side remain in sixth.

Burnley: Dubravka, Laurent, Esteve, Humphreys, Walker, Ugochukwu, Florentino, Pires, Edwards (Sonne 92′) Mejbri (Anthony 58′) Broja (Foster 76′)

Manchester United: Lammens, Dalot, Heaven (Yoro 61′) Martínez, Shaw, Ugarte (Lacey 84′) Casemiro (Mainoo 74′) Cunha (Zirkzee 74′) Fernandes (Mount 61′) Dorgu, Sesko