Analysis: Burnley

Burnley set up in a 4-4-2 formation, with Jeff Hendrick supporting Chris Wood in attack. They looked to the wide areas as the focal point of their in-possession strategy for the majority of the game.

The relationship between Aaron Lennon and Phil Bardsley on the right-hand side was particularly key, as the pair would regularly try to combine and create crossing opportunities. The hosts tended to position their wider midfielders, Lennon and Dwight McNeil, in the half-spaces – which in turn provided the opportunity for full-backs Bardsley and Charlie Taylor to move forward. They were also happy to play directly to Wood, but Hendrick’s freedom to roam left the striker isolated for much of the encounter. The latter didn’t really seem to fit into the system they were looking to play.

Central midfielders Ashley Westwood and Jack Cork had important roles to play, too. Cork was the more likely of the two to join and support attacking play in advanced areas, while Westwood was crucial in providing cover for the advancing full-backs and when the centre-backs stepped into midfield.

The introduction of centre forward Sam Vokes for Hendricks shortly before the hour mark provided an additional focal point for Burnley’s direct play and crosses from wide areas. His presence also offered Wood the support he had been missing, but they ultimately couldn’t breach a disciplined visiting defence.

Burnley operated in a 4-4-2 formation out of possession, and defended in a mid-block that took up positions of a low block as United progressed up the field. They were well organised in central areas, but there was space to be exploited on their right-hand side, which United increasingly targeted and from where both goals originated. Lennon and Bardsley struggled to deal with the relationship and interchanges between Luke Shaw and Alexis Sanchez on this flank.

Their objective out of possession was not to actively win the ball – Burnley were content to allow United to have the ball in front of them, and would only close the space to prevent forward play. They would increase the intensity of their press when the ball went into a United midfielder facing his own goal, but they didn’t adapt their defensive strategy particularly well once they went behind. As a result, they rarely looked like troubling a United team happy to run down the clock once Marcus Rashford was sent off with 20 minutes remaining.