Burnley Beat Manchester United 1-0
Turf Moor Rejoice in Historical Win as Blake Strike Sinks Champions
The longer the wait, the sweeter the revenge.
Burnley's First Premier League Home Game
33 years ago, a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester United condemned Burnley to relegation from the First Division, then top flight of English football.
After Burnley’s long exile, they were promoted through the play-offs last season. With the Clarets immediately tipped as relegation favourites, few could have foreseen the twist of fate when the fixtures list pitted them against Sir Alex Ferguson’s men in their opening home game this season.
Sir Alex Ferguson Tinkered His Team
Manchester United made six changes from the team that unconvincingly beat Birmingham City, another newly promoted side, at the weekend. Michael Owen made his first United start up front with Rooney; Wes Brown came in at centre-half; Ryan Giggs captained the side from midfield while Anderson and Park Ji-Sung replaced Nani and Paul Scholes.
Owen Wasteful in Front of Goal
In a match that United were expected to dominate, they made a slow start that saw Michael Owen squandered a good chance from six yards after only two minutes, when the striker failed to connect with Patrice Evra’s cross from the left.
Burnley were visibly struggling to cope with Manchester United’s passing in the opening exchange, but when they did attack, they were causing trouble and Steven Fletcher twice found space to shoot but could not hit the target.
Robbie Blake Scored Opening Goal
When Burnley did hit the target for the first time, they scored. Stephen Jordan, the Burnley midfielder, sent in a cross from the left on the 19th minute. It was not properly cleared by Patrice Evra, and striker Robbie Blake capitalised with a terrific volley that beat Ben Foster, the United goalkeeper, at the near post.
The goal further settled Owen Coyle’s team, and Michael Owen was guilty of profligacy again when his header from a Wes Brown cross was wide of the mark.
Michael Carrick Missed Penalty
Man United’s big chance to equalise came after 43 minutes, when Evra, played in by Owen, was fouled and Michael Carrick stepped up to take the penalty. He struck it well to the right of the keeper but Brian Jensen, who was to have a fantastic second half performance in Burnley’s goal, went the right way and saved the penalty.
The penalty miss highlighted the gaping hole in United left by their previous penalty-taker Cristiano Ronaldo, whose absence was made even more conspicuous in the second half.
United Petered Away in Second Half
While many would still have bet on a United comeback despite Carrick’s penalty miss, the second half was a surprisingly evenly matched affair. United were lacklustre going forward and only occasionally troubled Jensen’s goal.
It was actually Burnley who produced the more meaningful threats. Robbie Blake struck a free-kick from 20 yards that successfully wrong-footed Foster. The United keeper, with barely concealed relief, saw the ball whizzed just wide of his left-hand post.
Burnley More Threatening in Second Half
Martin Paterson was his usual energetic self, tormenting Wes Brown with his twists and turns. The United centre-back was never comfortable all evening, and was delivered from his ordeal when Gary Neville replaced him after 70 minutes.
United Substitutions
It was a natural move for Ferguson to send on Dimitar Berbatov and Antonio Valencia, new signing from Wigan Athletic, in an attempt to breach the Burnley fortress.
But some might have questioned the wisdom of taking off Michael Owen when not a few United crosses failed to find any black shirts in the six-yard box, an area frequented by the poaching Owen.
Also Berbatov’s understanding with Rooney seemed no better than Owen’s – the Bulgarian chased the same Giggs pass with Rooney, only to stop together in a breakdown of communication between the two front men.
Burnley Held on to Victory
As time ticked on, the final fifteen minutes of the game was predictably tense. Wayne Rooney summed up Manchester United’s frustrating when he was booked for a horrific tackle on Burnley’s Tyrone Mears.
There was enough time for Coyle to replace Paterson with United-reject Chris Eagles, for the Red Devils to play a few more misplaces passes and overhit crosses, and for further communication break-downs, this time between Giggs and Valencia as United wasted a good corner opportunity.
Turf Moor Wild in Celebration
When Alan Wiley blew his whistle on the 94th minute, Turf Moor’s 20,872-strong crowd exploded in jubilant celebration.
Burnley had, after all, waited 33 years for this opportunity to take their revenge, and it came in a match made all the more emotional by the perceived disparity in standings between the two clubs.
But Owen Coyle should ensure their hungover be short-lived, as teams need 40 points to ensure safety, not 3.
As for United, their quest for a fourth consecutive title will not be derailed after one defeat. However, the performance does pose important questions for them all over the pitch.
After all, and with all due respect to Burnley, there will be tougher nuts to crack in the Premier League.
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