How Manchester United were held to Burnley draw in first Premier League match since Ruben Amorim sacking
SOURCE:The Athletic|BY:Ed Mackey and Michael Dominski
A Benjamin Sesko brace wasn’t enough for United to win in Darren Fletcher's first match
A Benjamin Sesko brace wasn’t enough for United to win in Darren Fletcher's first match
Ed Mackey and Michael Dominski
January 7, 2026 at 6:25 PM EST
Interim Manchester United head coach Darren Fletcher looking stone-faced after the club’s draw at Burnley. Getty Images
Burnley 2-2 Manchester United — result
Manchester United were held to a 2-2 draw by Burnley in Darren Fletcher's first game as interim manager.
Ayden Heaven turned into his own net from a Bashir Humphreys cross to give Burnley a 13th-minute lead. But Benjamin Sesko turned the match on its head with two goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half, and United looked in a strong position to win the game.
Substitute Jaidon Anthony had other ideas and his wonderful strike drew Burnley level in the 66th minute.
United drop to seventh place in the Premier League table while Burnley remain 19th.
Be sure to check out The Athletic's live schedule for the week here.
What next for both teams?
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There is no Premier League football this weekend as all 20 top-flight teams enter the FA Cup at the third round.
Burnley won't harbour any ambitions of going all the way, but they are big favourites for their game against second-tier Millwall at home on Saturday.
Manchester United have to set their targets on winning every competition they play in, but they face a tough test; Brighton are the visitors to Old Trafford on Sunday.
Before making the admission that he would be staying in charge for Sunday's game, Darren Fletcher discussed his side's performance at Turf Moor.
💬 “Disappointed we didn’t win the game. I think we’ve done more than enough to win in terms of chances, shots, two cleared off the line. 2-2, if you look at the game in the context of everything, I think we did more than enough to win.
“When you get to 2-1 up, you want to go and see out the game, try and score another goal. To be fair to Burnley, it’s a great finish and not much we could do about it but to be 1-0 down in the first half, to come out and show that character to go 2-1 up, but then to concede and not to be able to get a third goal to win 3-2, that’s the disappointment.”
Breaking: Fletcher will be in charge for Sunday's FA Cup tie
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Darren Fletcher confirmed, when speaking to Sky Sports after the match, that his interim spell will extend into Sunday's FA Cup visit of Brighton.
💬 “It’s an amazing experience. I’m disappointed we didn’t win the game, I can’t hide that, but the experience of leading the team out, preparing the team, the support, it’s a pleasure, an honour. I’ve spoke to the board and I’ll be in charge for the Brighton game (in the FA Cup on Sunday) and then we’ll take it from there. It’s one game at a time.”
And he also had praise for goalscorer Benjamin Sesko.
“(Sesko) needed it massively. I spoke to him before the game and tried to reiterate what a good player he is. We got the service into the box for him, he made great movement, great runs, and he took his two goals fantastically.”
PL table: United drop to seventh
Premier League
Manchester United began the day in sixth place but drop to seventh thanks to Newcastle's dramatic late winner against Leeds. Finishing in the top five is likely to be good enough to qualify for next season's Champions League, and United are only a point back from Brentford in fifth.
It's a missed opportunity for them this evening, though, as they would have gone above Liverpool into fourth win a win at Turf Moor.
Casemiro and Martinez mistakes cost United
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For the majority of the game, it was a pretty decent defensive performance from Manchester United. But those same defensive lapses that cost Ruben Amorim dearly reared their ugly head in both halves tonight.
For the first Burnley goal, Casemiro switched off to allowed Bashir Humphreys a free run into the penalty area. And for the second, unforgivably lazy defending from Lisandro Martinez allowed Jaidon Anthony the space to pick out the top corner.
United can forget about moving up the Premier League table if they continue to make such basic errors.
Your reactions to Manchester United's performance
Matthew P.: It is difficult to deny that this performance is much better than what we have seen previously (including against the other poor sides comparable to Burnley). We are unlucky not to win this and we are clearly the better team, which I did not feel in games like Wolves, Everton etc.
Barakat S.: Still the same issues regardless of the system or formation. Whenever the team is under pressure the midfield doesn’t provide cover or support to the defence. The midfield also doesn’t hold onto the ball when under pressure.
Stuart L.: Been watching Lacey for years and he's probably the most exciting youth player I've personally seen at United. Means nothing unless he steps up but I really hope he does.
Murray M.: I’m glad that now Amorim has been sacked for not being good enough we can all get back to what Manchester United is really about – slagging off the players for not being good enough!
Sesko's goals a silver lining
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Benjamin Sesko
First 16 Premier League matches: 2 goals
Tonight vs Burnley: 2 goals
This is the first time Sesko scored twice in the same match since October 2024 when he did so for RB Leipzig in the Champions League against Juventus.
Sesko: 'It's hard for us'
It was a good night for Benjamin Sesko as he scored his third and fourth goals for Manchester United, although might be a little disappointed that he didn't get a hat-trick given the chances he had.
He didn't have a lot to say in his post-match interview with Sky Sports, but here it is.
💬 “First of all, it's hard for us. We were fighting, we were giving our best, trying to find ways to score. Unfortunately, we conceded the second goal.”
On his goal easing the pressure: “It's easier for me but it's really important that I can help the team in that way. It's my job, at the end of the day.”
On him and his team-mates responded to Ruben Amorim's sacking: “It's never easy when you lose a manager, now it's up to us to stand together as a group and show we can work together whatever the situation.”
'A frustrating night for United'
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That was such a frustrating night for United — it should have been a comfortable victory. Burnley had one shot on target in the match and scored twice.
The substitution of Fernandes, due to managing his minutes after injury, affected United’s momentum. Fletcher tried to win game with his subs but came up short.
Points dropped against all of the bottom seven since the start of November for Manchester United. And more points lost from a winning position too.
Fernandes' planned substitution maybe the difference between one point and three. And yet, they were still sixth (until Newcastle's late winner against Leeds).
PL results: City and Villa drop points, Newcastle win seven-goal thriller
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What a night of Premier League drama!
26 goals across the eight matches — and seven of them came between Newcastle and Leeds at St James' Park. And it was a great night for Arsenal as Manchester City and Aston Villa lost further ground on the league leaders.
Bournemouth 3-2 Tottenham (Evanilson, Kroupi, Semenyo; Tel, Palhinha)
Brentford 3-0 Sunderland (Thiago x2, Yarmoliuk)
Crystal Palace 0-0 Aston Villa
Everton 1-1 Wolves (Keane; Mane)
Fulham 2-1 Chelsea (Jimenez, Wilson; Delap)
Manchester City 1-1 Brighton (Haaland; Mitoma)
Burnley 2-2 Manchester United (Heaven OG, Anthony; Sesko x2)
While things aren't great for Manchester United at the moment, a draw isn't really enough for Burnley if they want to avoid relegation.
They are now winless in their past 12 Premier League matches, their longest such streak in a top-flight season since the 2009-2010 season (also 12 games).
Fletcher's subs were questionable
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I am going to contradict myself a little. I just said blame can't really lie at Fletcher's door after tonight's result, but I will criticise his substitutions.
Bruno Fernandes had to be withdrawn on the hour mark as part of his recovery from injury, but Mason Mount didn't impact the game much at all off the bench.
And the two subs that followed really hurt United, in my opinion. Kobbie Mainoo looked miles off match fitness and if Joshua Zirkzee is the answer, then I think you're asking the wrong question.
Matheus Cunha was quiet tonight, but you would always back him over Zirkzee to win you a game.
No improvement defensively
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Things don't seem to have changed much for Manchester United under Darren Fletcher, at least not defensively.
After tonight's concessions, United have kept a clean sheet in just two of their past 25 Premier League away matches. Even more damning, United have kept just one clean sheet in their past 10 league games against sides in the relegation zone.
More disappointment for Manchester United
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I don't think too much blame can lie at Darren Fletcher's door given he has only had two days with the squad since taking over from Ruben Amorim, but that's a really disappointing result.
Burnley haven't won in the Premier League since October and have lost nine of their last 11 games, and have taken a point from Manchester United.
On another day, the away side would have scored four or five goals such were the quality of their chances but if you don't take your chances, you won't win football matches.
Terrible defending from Casemiro for the first goal, and an equally deplorable effort from Lisandro Martinez for the second.
I'm trying to summarise that result and performance but I'm still thinking about Shea Lacey hitting the crossbar.
FULL TIME: United held to 2-2 draw by Burnley
FT Burnley 2-2 Manchester United
Yep, that was the last chance of the match, so Manchester United have to settle for a point at Turf Moor.
Two more dropped points in a must-win game, but they should have taken all three.
Darren Fletcher's men dominated the lion's share of the game, but two defensive lapses cost them a goal in each half. Benjamin Sesko's two goals were the highlight for the visitors, but he missed a couple of other big chances.
Lacey drills another long shot just wide!
90+5' Burnley 2-2 Manchester United
This boy has some confidence, let me tell you.
I gave Mainoo a ripping a few minutes ago for a dreadful strike from distance, and I could have done the same to Lacey a few minutes later, But the 18-year-old, 25 yards from goal, whipped his left-footed effort a whisker wide of Burnley's top corner.
Almost a stunning winner from the young substitute, but that looks to be that for United.
Shaw can't trap the ball
90+3' Burnley 2-2 Manchester United
It's a funny game is football. You see a team struggle to attack between minutes 81 and 90, yet as soon as the stoppage time is announced they find another gear.
United have looked busier since the five minutes were added on and looked to be through on goal after a lovely clipped ball from Mount. But Shaw, on the run, just couldn't trap the ball and it bobbled out for a goal kick.
Time running out for United — can they create one more chance?
