Romelu Lukaku scored twice as 10-man Manchester United returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Burnley at Turf Moor.
United looked on course for a routine victory when Lukaku headed them ahead on 27 minutes and doubled their tally with a close-range second a minute before half-time.
But after Paul Pogba had a second-half penalty saved by Joe Hart, United had to play the final 19 minutes a man down when Marcus Rashford was shown a straight red card for head-butting Phil Bardsley.
However, three days on from their agonising Europa League exit against Olympiakos, Burnley showed little sign of mounting a late comeback, Sam Vokes’ header stoppage-time header all the Clarets could muster by way of a response.
Instead, United ground out the win – which lifts them to 10th in the table – to ease the pressure on beleaguered manager Jose Mourinho. Burnley remain second from bottom after their third successive defeat.
United’s fluid front three of Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez and Jesse Lingard tormented Burnley in the opening exchanges, with the fleet-footed England international creating two clear opening inside 10 minutes.
With barely two minutes on the clock, Lingard wriggled clear of the Clarets centre-backs but flashed a shot wide of the post – eight minutes later he curled an effort from the edge of the box over.
Lingard remained a threat but it was his strike partners that combined for United’s opener as Sanchez was allowed to pick out Lukaku with a cross from the left, and the Belgium international headed his second goal of the season beyond Hart from six yards.
It was no more than United deserved and they could have had a second had it not been for Hart, who raced off his line to smother Lukaku on 36 minutes – but it was not long until the Burnley goalkeeper’s defences were breached again.
Lingard was involved again as his shot ricocheted around the Burnley area, striking Ben Mee and the head of Ashley Westwood before falling perfectly for the lurking Lukaku, who slotted home to double United’s lead on 44 minutes.
With United meandering to victory, the game burst into life on 68 minutes as substitute Rashford drew a foul from Aaron Lennon in the area, but Pogba’s penalty after his now-trademark run-up was parried away by Hart.
Things took a turn for the worse for United three minutes later when Rashford was given his marching orders by referee Jon Moss for reacting angrily to a Bardsley tackle and throwing his head into the face of the Burnley defender.
Mourinho has really been up against after United’s worst start to a Premier League season since 1992. But just when his manager needed it most, Lukaku rekindled his touch in front of goal. The Belgian’s first league brace since his United debut in the competition back in August 2017 put the visitors in control, and gave Mourinho something to cheer about after a fortnight of angst at Old Trafford.
