Respite For Mourinho As United Beat Burnley 2-0
- Rashford sees red, Watford pip Tottenham 2-1
The much-needed respite came for Manager Jose Mourinho as Manchester United survived Marcus Rashford’s red card to beat hosts, Burnley 2-0 in a Premiership tie that saw a banner protesting against club’s Executive Vice-Chairman, Ed Woodward.
United returned to winning ways on Sunday as Romelu Lukaku’s first-half double was enough to give them a 2-0 victory over Burnley in a match where Frenchman, Paul Pogba missed a penalty.
It was a morale-boosting victory for the old Trafford said to reduce some of the pressure on Mourinho who witnessed Pogba’s penalty loss and Marcus Rashford’s red card in the space of two second-half minutes.
A banner protesting against Ed Woodward was flown over the ground before kick-off, but United were not distracted from the job at hand in the early exchanges, with Jesse Lingard missing three chances in a dominant opening spell.
Burnley grew into the game but found themselves behind 27 minutes in, when Lukaku jumped just high enough to head a fine Alexis Sanchez cross past Joe Hart from six yards out.
It needed a fine save from Hart to deny Lukaku a quick second after a swift break involving Sanchez, but the Belgium striker smashed home from point-blank range to make it 2-0 before half-time after Lingard’s shot hit first Charlie Taylor and then Ashley Westwood.
Paul Pogba wasted the chance to make it 3-0 when Hart comfortably saved his rather tame penalty, and Burnley hopes of a comeback were increased two minutes later when substitute Rashford was sent off for pushing his head into Phil Bardsley’s after he appeared to kick out at the forward.
Sean Dyche’s men pushed forward with the man advantage but Lukaku should have killed off the game, the forward wasting two opportunities when put clean through one-on-one with Hart.
United held firm for their second win of the season, though, allowing Mourinho to head into the two-week international break in a happier mood.
In another Sunday outing, Watford fought hard to down Tottenham Hotspurs 2-1 and maintain a perfect start to the new season
Troy Deeney and Craig Cathcart scored as the Hornets celebrated winning their first four games of a league season for just the second time in their history.
In maintaining their 100 per cent start to the Premier League season, Watford ended Tottenham’s perfect record as they came from behind to win 2-1 at Vicarage Road.
After a desperately poor first half, the game sparked into life in the 53rd minute as Abdoulaye Doucoure scored a comical own goal to hand the visitors the lead.
That setback only served to motivate Javi Gracia’s side, who stormed back with two headed goals from Troy Deeney and Craig Cathcart in the space of seven minutes to join Liverpool and Chelsea on maximum points from the opening four games.
The result brings Spurs, who had won their opening three matches, crashing down to earth following Monday’s 3-0 win over Manchester United. – with agency reports
