sport news Burnley 0-1 Manchester United: Bruno Fernandes hits sublime volley to earn ... trends now
Bruno Fernandes produced a moment of magic as an unfamiliar-looking Manchester United line-up ended a run of three consecutive defeats to climb into the top half of the Premier League table.
After surviving a few first-half scares with Burnley hitting the post, captain Fernandes settled manager Erik ten Hag’s nerves by volleying a Jonny Evans pass Robin van Persie-style on the stroke of the interval.
On TV, an admiring Rio Ferdiannd said: ‘That is what captains do. They step up in big moments when you need something special.’
It was a gutsy rather than convincing United win but they’ll take it after a traumatic start to the season and their back-four entirely made up of understudies because of injury, with 35-year-old Evans the most surprising pick.
Burnley, managed by United’s old nemesis Vincent Kompany, could feel aggrieved to be trailing at half-time but nonetheless slump to the foot of the table with this defeat.
Bruno Fernandes scores the only goal of the game as Man Utd beat Burnley 1-0 at Turf Moor
The United captain helped stopped the rot after a run of three games without a win
Everyone inside Turf Moor at kick off knew something had to give with Burnley having lost all their previous home games and United pointless away.
Erik ten Hag, already without Luke Shaw and Aaron wan-Bissaka long-term, had to contend with a fresh injury to Lisandro Martinez while a knee issue meant Harry Maguire still wasn’t available and Raphael Varane only fit enough for the bench.
The Dutchman therefore turned to 35-year-old Evans for his first Premier League start with the club since 2015, having re-signed for United in the summer.
Hannibal Mejbri and Scott McTominay were also drafted in to bring younger legs to a new-look midfield. The Tunisian’s only previous United start came in 2022 against Crystal Palace under Ralf Rangnick.
For Burnley, Zeki Amdouni was asked to fill the striking boots of suspended Lyle Foster. Amdouni was pushed further forward with Aaron Ramsey coming into midfield following his summer move from Aston Villa.
United looked crisp in their all-white kit and started brightly with Marcus Rashford firing into the side-netting in the opening minute.
Rashford then fed Fernandes whose fierce cross-shot forced the first save of the game from James Trafford.
Burnley didn’t get into the United box until the 10th minute but would have scored without a magnificent stretching save by Amadou Onana, who had been at fault for the midweek Champions League defeat against Bayern Munich.
Josh Brownhill and Conor Roberts combined down the right and when the ball was fired in Amdouni’s downward header was destined the corner until Onana sprung into action and clawed
