Manchester United 2-0 Burnley: The 5 men who saved Mourinho's job

Mourinho made 3 changes to the team that lost against Spurs. United started with de Gea in goal, Valencia, Lindelof, Smalling and Shaw in defence, Matic, Fellaini and Pogba in the midfield and Sanchez, Lukaku and Lingard in attack.

The D-Day for Mourinho at Manchester United was finally here. An away win would have been the only acceptable result after a torrid two weeks where United lost 2 consecutive games, conceding 6 goals in the process.

United ran out onto the pitch in their new away jerseys. The team was under pressure, their manager was under pressure. Jose Mourinho's job was on the line and he desperately needed someone to stand up and rescue him.

United started the game brightly and were immediately on the front foot. There was an urgency similar to the Spurs game as United showed great fluidity in attack, however, the chances were not converted. After a lot of United pressure, Burnley seemed to be getting back in the game, raising fears of a deja vu.

Thankfully, Lukaku struck in the 27th minute to take United ahead, heading in a Sanchez cross. A minute before the break, United were 2-0 up, with Lukaku capitalizing on some defensive lapses and scoring one from close range. United were 2-0 just before the break and looked comfortable.

The second half saw United control the game and things were looking good for the Red Devils. Mourinho brought in Rashford in place of Sanchez at the hour mark and 10 minutes later, the youngster was sent off for headbutting Phil Bardsley.

This put United under a lot of pressure for the final 20 minutes, however, in that time, Pogba missed a penalty and Lukaku missed two easy opportunities that would have taken the game away from Burnley.

In the end, United had 54% possession and attempted 513 passes with 85% accuracy. They had 21 shots with 9 of those on target. Ultimately, United got back to winning ways and Jose Mourinho shall live to manage another match at least. For that, he has five players to be thankful to:

---

#5 Jesse Lingard

Lingard was lively throughout the game

Lingard started the game from the first whistle and combined well with Valencia on the right. He looked lively and could have scored early in the game when his curling shot was just wide of the far post.

It was a sign of things to come as Lingard regularly combined with his attacking partners Lukaku and Sanchez and put the Burnley defence under a lot of pressure. His combination with Valencia was also quite good throughout the game, as the attacking midfielder helped out his skipper regularly.

He switched flanks, played on the right for a while and had he not been a little wasteful with his shots, could have had a goal as well.

With United going a man down in the 71st minute, Lingard was ultimately sacrificed for Ander Herrera, but the Englishman had done enough to see United come back to winning ways. He is definitely getting a pat on the back from his manager.

#4 Victor Lindelof

Lindelof (L) performed admirably after his howler against Spurs

The lack of defensive discipline was discussed in depth in the previous two defeats, and with Jones injured, Mourinho had a decision to make. While everyone expected Bailey to partner Smalling, Mourinho opted for Lindelof and the Swede did not let his manager down.

Lindelof was assured right from the beginning and he was particularly strong against Wood. He was vocal in defence all through the game and took control. His presence seemed to instil a sense of confidence in Smalling and those two combined well to keep Burnley at bay.

But Lindelof did not just sit in defence, he played some good long balls too. He found Lukaku with a great lofted pass over the Burnley defence and had Lingard not been wasteful, it would have led to the opening goal.

When United was down to 10 men, Lindelof took up added responsibility, winning headers and getting tackles in. He and Smalling combined very well to win United and David De Gea, their first clean sheet of the season.

#3 Nemanja Matic

Matic played higher up the pitch!

Quite surprisingly, Mourinho put out United with Matic higher up in the pitch, and Fellaini shielding the defence. Matic did lend out a hand every time United were under pressure, but in a refreshing change, also joined in the United attack regularly.

With Pogba not having the best of games, it was Matic who ensured that United did not suffer. The Serbian used his brilliant left foot to spray the ball, opened up spaces for the front three and brought the fullbacks into the game.

His excellent reading of the game ensured that whenever United were caught out, Matic was doing the cleaning up higher up the pitch. He shielded the ball very well and kept the ball moving and even affected the game from around the penalty box.

Contrary to his normal style of play, Matic regularly ran in to join the attack. He was even in the penalty box once, attempting a cross. The Serb was back to his usual position after Rashford got his marching orders and he did very well to shield his defence until the end of the game.

Matic showed the United fans a fascinating new aspect of his game and he definitely should do this more often!

#2 Alexis Sanchez

Sanchez provided the assist for the first goal

Alexis Sanchez started in attack with Lukaku and Lingard and was perhaps the most influential of the three. He was instrumental in all of United’s moves in the game, receiving the ball, deceiving the first man, trying to set up both Lukaku and Lingard.

The Chilean showed signs of a growing understanding with Lukaku and sent the Belgian through with a delightful ball, only for Hart to make a good save. He also combined well with Lingard and set up the Englishman quite a few times, however, Lingard was a tad wasteful.

Shaw was perhaps the one most benefitted with having the Chilean around. He had acres of space to run into and kept Bardsley pegged back all through the game. Sanchez also contributed in defence, picking up a yellow for his troubles.

But it was his gameplay on the left that unlocked the Burnley defence. He brilliantly found Lukaku for the first goal, picking up an assist. Time and again, he arrived at the left of the penalty box and kept Burnley guessing with his unpredictability, laying the ball out to Shaw, sending in crosses or spreading the ball inside for the midfield runners.

Sanchez had a great game and a thankful manager in the dressing room should give him a lot of confidence.

#1 Romelu Lukaku

Lukaku could easily have scored more

Goals win you games and Lukaku scored two. That should be enough to make him the main player who rescued United. But the Belgian did so much more throughout the game, that he deserved those 2 goals he scored.

He drifted to the right to bring Lingard into the game, linked well with his two attacking partners, dropped down to create spaces for Sanchez and Lingard. Lukaku showed a more complete, a more mature side of his game against Burnley, even though he was wasteful as well and got United the deserved three points.

His first goal was a brilliant header from a Sanchez cross. It looked like the cross was beyond him, but Lukaku adjusted his header to find the net. His second goal was a typical poachers goal when a shot from outside the box by Lingard found him after a few deflections and he powered one home from close range.

He could have had a hattrick had Pogba not been so selfish when United won the penalty. Sadly, the Frenchman missed from the spot. Yet, the Belgian showed his humble side, not complaining about missing out on the opportunity. He did have another opportunity to get his hattrick later, however, but was thwarted by Hart again.

Next, he was set up by Pogba with a fabulous long ball and left Hart on the floor with his stepovers, only to be disrupted from scoring brilliantly by Mee. He really should have had his hattrick, but it was his two goals which ultimately won United a tense game.