The current Manchester United side, representing English football’s 20-time record champions, seriously struggle to hold on to a lead. It is the puzzle of Erik ten Hag’s vintage, an unwanted leitmotif of this lost season under the Dutchman as, once more, it happened here in yet another late capitulation.
A careening Antony, close to tumbling over, appeared to be United’s hero, his strike beyond Arijanet Muric kissing the back of the Burnley net with the clock showing 79 minutes. But no. United hit self-destruct via the hapless act of André Onana, who wiped out Zeki Amdouni near his goal when Aaron Wan-Bissaka had already headed the ball clear.
It was a clear penalty, given by John Brooks after the video assistant referee referred him to the pitchside monitor. Amdouni sent United’s No 1 the wrong way to beat him to his left and, as against Coventry in the FA Cup and Chelsea, Brentford and Liverpool in this competition, Ten Hag’s men had again failed to do what should be regulation for elite players: to close a contest down as the seconds ebb away.
United tried to rally, but Antony’s shout for a spot-kick after smacking the ball against Vitinho’s hand was turned down and Casemiro, given a golden opening, flicked a header from Bruno Fernandes’s free-kick straight at Muric.
United are all but ruled out of Champions League qualification while Burnley are two points from the last safe spot having played a game more than 17th-placed Nottingham Forest.
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