Burnley 0-1 Manchester United

Anthony Martial scores Manchester United's first goal — Anthony Martial's goal was his 11th of the season

Manchester United beat Burnley thanks to Anthony Martial's well-taken goal at Turf Moor but remain 12 points behind leaders Manchester City.

Martial's second-half strike was one of only two efforts on target from the visitors in a display that was effective rather than entertaining.

After a dour first half, Martial fired in off the underside of the bar after good work in the build-up from Romelu Lukaku.

Burnley pressed forward in search of a leveller, coming closest when Johann Berg Gudmundsson's free-kick hit the bar.

But United goalkeeper David de Gea rarely looked like blotting his side's fifth successive clean sheet despite a siege on his goal in the final five minutes.

Manchester City defeated Newcastle 3-1 later on Saturday to maintain their advantage over their city rivals.

United attack awaits Sanchez arrival

Manchester United shotmap against Burnley — Manchester United had 10 shots off target (red) or blocked (yellow) with Anthony Martial responsible for both the efforts on target (green) for the visitors

As United extended their unbeaten run in the league to eight games, it was a scoreline - rather than performance - for their travelling fans to enjoy.

In front of club legends Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Bobby Charlton, United took the points in a style in keeping with manager Jose Mourinho's regular modus operandi, rather than the club's dynamic, attacking traditions.

The apparently imminent arrival of industrious Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez will surely jump-start an attack that lacked pace, invention or a single shot on target in the first half.

But, on this occasion, the individual quality of United's squad emerged for just long enough to deliver the decisive goal.

The previously pedestrian Lukaku came to life, barging aside Ben Mee and Steven Defour to secure the loose ball before sweeping it across the field to find Martial, who expertly stood up Phil Bardsley before scoring.

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Mourinho compliments Burnley after 'hard' game

Burnley's reverse run continues

After a stellar first half of the season, Sean Dyche's Burnley have now lost four matches in a row for the first time since May 2015.

The manager has claimed a poor run of results is inevitable for those outside the Premier League's powerhouses, and his side played well enough to end their losing streak.

They had as many shots, as many efforts on target and, at 48%, only slightly less possession than the visitors.

In Mee and, especially, James Tarkowski, they also had the game's standout defensive players.

Amid his excellent work at his own end, Tarkowski came close to a goal at the other as Gudmundsson's low cross just evaded his outstretched boot.

The 25-year-old's new contract, signed on 4 January, is one result the Clarets, now eighth, can be proud of in recent weeks.

Man of the match - James Tarkowski (Burnley)

United improve on the road - the stats

Manchester United have won five of their last six away Premier League games (drawing the other one), after winning just two of the 10 prior to this run (drawing four and losing four).
The Clarets have lost three consecutive Premier League home games for the first time since April 2010.
Burnley have won one of their last 25 matches against Manchester United in all competitions.
Anthony Martial has scored in three consecutive Premier League appearances for United for the first time.
David de Gea has kept more clean sheets than any other goalkeeper in Europe's big five leagues this season (14).

'I think Alexis is coming' - what they said

Burnley manager Sean Dyche: "The defining moment is an absolutely fantastic finish from a player they brought in for a lot of money. They just found a moment and that is our next stage of our development but we are not too far away.

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Burnley performance pleases Dyche despite defeat

"Despite it being a tricky run I'm delighted with the way we are going. Eighth in the Premier League is no mean feat but we have to keep playing like that to get back to winning ways.

Asked about a move for Everton's Aaron Lennon: "Aaron Lennon is a possibility, there are a few players we have been linked with so we will see."

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho: "If you don't score you are in trouble, they go direct, they are consistent in their approach it is really difficult.

"We defended very well, and it is fair to say Mike Dean and his team were very good. There was a lot of first ball, second ball and the physicality.

"Of course we are happy with him (Anthony Martial), we just want consistency, we know he has the talent."

Asked about Alexis Sanchez coming to Manchester United from Arsenal: "If you ask me if I think he is coming, I think so, but I have no confirmation."

What's next?

Burnley are next in action away to Newcastle on Wednesday 31 January, with Manchester United tackling Yeovil away on Friday, before a league trip to Tottenham on the same day as the Clarets' visit to Tyneside.

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Burnley

29Pope
26BardsleyBooked at 67mins
5Tarkowski
6MeeBooked at 31mins
3Taylor
17Berg Gudmundsson
16DefourBooked at 69mins
4Cork
37ArfieldSubstituted forNkoudouat 81'minutes
13HendrickSubstituted forVokesat 81'minutes
10BarnesSubstituted forWellsat 89'minutes

Substitutes

2Lowton
7Nkoudou
9Vokes
18Westwood
21Wells
22Lindegaard
28Long

Man Utd

1de Gea
25A ValenciaBooked at 90mins
12Smalling
4Jones
18Young
14LingardSubstituted forRashfordat 80'minutes
31MaticBooked at 76mins
6PogbaBooked at 69mins
8MataSubstituted forFellainiat 72'minutes
9Lukaku
11MartialSubstituted forHerreraat 90+4'minutes

Substitutes

5Rojo
19Rashford
20Romero
21Herrera
23Shaw
27Fellaini
39McTominay

Referee:: Mike Dean
Attendance:: 21,841

Match Stats

Home TeamBurnleyAway TeamMan Utd

Possession: Home48%; Away52%

Shots: Home14; Away12

Shots on Target: Home3; Away2

Corners: Home5; Away4

Fouls: Home7; Away13

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Burnley 0, Manchester United 1.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+7'

Second Half ends, Burnley 0, Manchester United 1.

Posted at 90'+6'

Foul by Marcus Rashford (Manchester United).

Posted at 90'+6'

Jack Cork (Burnley) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 90'+6'

Corner, Burnley. Conceded by Antonio Valencia.

Posted at 90'+6'

Attempt blocked. Georges-Kévin Nkoudou (Burnley) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.

Posted at 90'+4'

Antonio Valencia (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+4'

Foul by Nahki Wells (Burnley).

Substitution

Posted at 90'+4'

Substitution, Manchester United. Ander Herrera replaces Anthony Martial.

Posted at 90'+3'

Attempt missed. Sam Vokes (Burnley) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Johann Berg Gudmundsson with a cross following a set piece situation.

Booking

Posted at 90'+2'

Antonio Valencia (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card.

Posted at 90'+2'

Foul by Marcus Rashford (Manchester United).

Posted at 90'+2'

Georges-Kévin Nkoudou (Burnley) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 90'+2'

Attempt missed. Sam Vokes (Burnley) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box misses to the right following a corner.

Posted at 90'+1'

Corner, Burnley. Conceded by Marcus Rashford.

Posted at 90'+1'

Foul by Marcus Rashford (Manchester United).

Posted at 90'+1'

Charlie Taylor (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution

Posted at 89'

Substitution, Burnley. Nahki Wells replaces Ashley Barnes.

Posted at 88'

Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Phil Bardsley.

Posted at 88'

Attempt saved. Anthony Martial (Manchester United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Paul Pogba.

Posted at 86'

Foul by Anthony Martial (Manchester United).

Posted at 86'

Phil Bardsley (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 85'

Attempt missed. Sam Vokes (Burnley) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Johann Berg Gudmundsson with a cross following a corner.

Posted at 85'

Corner, Burnley. Conceded by Chris Smalling.

Substitution

Posted at 81'

Substitution, Burnley. Sam Vokes replaces Jeff Hendrick.

Substitution

Posted at 81'

Substitution, Burnley. Georges-Kévin Nkoudou replaces Scott Arfield.

Posted at 81'

Attempt missed. Nemanja Matic (Manchester United) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Antonio Valencia.

Substitution

Posted at 80'

Substitution, Manchester United. Marcus Rashford replaces Jesse Lingard.

Posted at 79'

Attempt blocked. Jesse Lingard (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Anthony Martial.

Posted at 77'

Attempt missed. Ashley Barnes (Burnley) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Steven Defour following a set piece situation.

Booking

Posted at 76'

Nemanja Matic (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 76'

Foul by Nemanja Matic (Manchester United).

Posted at 76'

Scott Arfield (Burnley) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 75'

Attempt blocked. Paul Pogba (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Phil Jones.

Posted at 74'

Foul by Paul Pogba (Manchester United).

Posted at 74'

Phil Bardsley (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution

Posted at 72'

Substitution, Manchester United. Marouane Fellaini replaces Juan Mata.

Posted at 70'

Corner, Burnley. Conceded by David de Gea.

Booking

Posted at 69'

Steven Defour (Burnley) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Booking

Posted at 69'

Paul Pogba (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card.