Man Utd on the brink, again: Darren Fletcher, false dawns and a familiar collapse at Turf Moor
Read on as Sports News Blitz’s Manchester United resident Robert Bore chronicles another twist in the Red Devils’ never-ending quest for stability - and their latest, painfully familiar stumble in the race for the Premier League top four.
It was quite a few days, wasn't it?
The Magical Manchester United Managerial Mystery Tour bus was still warm from its trip across the Pennines when it revved its engine again, slipped into gear and reversed right over Ruben Amorim.
Amorim probably expected it, considering his post-match comments at Elland Road and his now-publicised 'tactics-driven' spat with Director of Football Jason Wilcox a few days earlier.
And if his compensation package is what has been reported, he had around £10 million reasons to let the hand brake off himself.
Where does that leave United? Ole Gunnar Solskjaer? Michael Carrick? Who bloody knows?
What we did know going into the game was that Darren Fletcher would step into the breach at Turf Moor, and United were likely to look at a permanent replacement for their latest failure in the summer.
We'll debate that in good time. Along with the merits or demerits of our hierarchy. I have my own thoughts.
Chaos at the top, Fletcher in the dugout
But more importantly, three points against relegation fodder was top of the menu, and with skipper Bruno Fernandes back, my appetite was large, and my optimism was back, bristling like an otter's whiskers and desperate for a good feed.
As to where the lesser-spotted Mason Mount and slab head himself, Harry Maguire, both on the bench alongside Kobbie Mainoo, perhaps the catalyst to the end of Amorim.
But not the only factor, reports of a fallout with recruitment head Christopher Vivell over transfers; a training ground row with Lisandro Martinez (who he subsequently made skipper in Fernandes' absence, mind you).
Diogo Dalot, sadly, had not returned to Portugal with his old boss.
So what would we see from Fletcher, who marched onto the Turf Moor pitch proudly alongside a returning Jonny Evans at his side?
It all felt a little bit nostalgic, I admit, but then I remembered we'd dropped four points to Burnley's fellow basement dwellers Wolves and West Ham in December 2025.
I had the Calamity Button charged up, just in case.
A flat opening and an early warning
It was an inauspicious start, Casemiro's pitching wedge effort was very high, and it took until the eighth minute for the first Solskjaer rendition - presumably duly noted by Wilcox and CEO Omar Berrada, who had braved the Lancastrian chill.
Benjamin Sesko had two opportunities to have a go at his defender but chose to pass backwards, perhaps symptomatic of his confidence levels, and it was all a little bit stale to be honest.
Bruno, meanwhile, had yet to get into the game after his injury lay-off.
We'd hardly seen him before the Calamity Button went all s*x toy, soon after, buzzing and flashing all over the table in a little samba dance.
Casemiro was the culprit, stepping out to Bashir Humphreys but then failing to retreat with the same man who swung over a cross that Ayden Heaven got a toe on but inadvertently looped over Senne Lammens and into the far corner.
Somewhere out there, Amorim was laughing into his pastel de nata. I'd half hoped he'd be sat there somewhere in the crowd, maybe a row in front of Wilcox, although he'd have been gigging into an egg custard in these parts.
Pastel de nata's are delicious, to be fair, which could not be said for the fare on the pitch, 20 minutes gone and United's only shot in anger had been Casemiro's shocker.
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Calamity strikes and United chase the game
Sesko made a good run to get in between the centre halves, but his glance was easy for Martin Dubravka in the Burnley goal.
United almost levelled after Fernandes' neat free-kick was swept to the far post and Casemiro nodded back across goal.
Matheus Cunha out-jumped Kyle Walker to head the ball home, but Humphreys nodded away from under his own crossbar.
From the resulting corner, United went even closer, Martinez turning the ball home, but referee Stuart Attwell adjudged the Argentine to have fouled Walker just before, even though the former Man City man went down easier than a shot of tequila rose.
Fletcher didn't look amused. But there were at least signs of life.
Signs of life, but no equaliser
The hosts could have doubled their lead, romping through the United midfield before Lucas Pires fired narrowly wide of the far post. It was another warning.
It was a struggle of a return for Fernandes, who was simply being given no time or space.
Ring rust, hopefully, rather than being rushed back too soon, but the sight of Mount limbering up was also welcome as something needed to change.
Dorgu robbed Walker and galloped forward, feeding Sesko in behind, but his effort was weak again and lacking in conviction. It really wasn't happening for the Slovenian despite good movement.
Former Red Hannibal Mejbri was booked for diving, his second blatant one of the game, while Sesko was unlucky moments later, getting in between his defenders again from Casemiro's cross, but his header was turned over the crossbar by Dubravka.
Ugarte flashed one wide of the far post as United continued to toil - it would have been better at the feet of Fernandes or Cunha - the Brazilian firing at Dubravka in added time.
There was still time for another goal-line clearance by Burnley, this time Maxime Esteve performing the heroics after Fernandes had put Dorgu in behind on the left side of the six-yard box, and while the young Dane did everything right, lifting the ball over the keeper, his defender was alive.
All huff and puff from the visitors, but the hosts' house was not blowing down.
Burnley were ahead despite not having had a shot on target.
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Sesko delivers and hope returns
Cunha was moved more central for the restart, Fernandes switching out right as the second half began, and Dalot misplaced his first pass.
United began brightly, and Burnley were already sitting back. So it was no surprise when the visitors levelled five minutes in.
It was - finally - Sesko that got his reward.
His movement had been good all night, as it was at Leeds on Sunday, but this time Fernandes weighted a perfect pass behind the defenders for the young striker who fired first time across Dubravka and into the corner.
I'm not sure which it was, joy or relief, etched on his face. The expectation was now there; United must go on to win.
Bruno almost edged them ahead, controlling the ball over his marker but lashing against a post. The half-time changes from Fletcher looked to be bearing fruit.
Heaven should have scored from a corner but headed onto his own shoulder when all he had to do was have a clean contact, redemption denied.
From fourth place to freefall
With other results falling in their favour, Man City dropping points, Aston Villa held, and Chelsea beaten, fourth place was absolutely there for the taking.
And it was on. And it was Sesko time as he split his markers yet again and steered the ball past Dubravka. This time, it was definitely a smile of joy.
Fletcher dusted off Amorim's dice and took off Fernandes, so as not to risk anything, I guess, with Mount entering alongside Leny Yoro, who replaced Heaven.
United were going fourth.
Then they weren't.
From nowhere.
The hosts levelled as United's defence backed off, sub Jaidon Anthony turning the ball onto his other foot then curling into the far corner with Burnley's first shot on target.
Martinez the culprit. You couldn't write it. Vertigo striking the visitors yet again.
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Late pressure, no payoff
Sesko turned well as he looked for his hat-trick, but this effort from Luke Shaw's pass was tamer than his last two.
Fletcher readied Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee, who was so influential last time out - Cunha and Casemiro hooked.
Eyes started to drift towards the clock as Yoro nodded one wide with around 13 minutes remaining.
Sesko had another chance but fired into the ground, which took the sting out of it. United needed to step it up a notch.
Fletcher switched Ugarte for young Shea Lacey with six minutes of normal time remaining, and we were entering hero time - and it was nearly Lacey who delivered, turning inside a few yards before curling an effort off the crossbar.
Nothing learned, nothing fixed
It was now time to see what was being added...It was an extra five. Could United fashion a winner?
Lacey pinged another just over, but it was a wasted five minutes punctuated by sideways passes and a distinct lack of urgency.
Two more points drained away, seeping through my hands along with my sanity.
Six points dropped in three games against the dregs in the space of a month. A massive 12 points dropped against the current bottom six.
United's underbelly is softer than that of a baby duck. If the opposition see a crumb of hope, we'll make them a sandwich, or a three-course dinner. We'll even do the washing up.
And whatever Amorim's foibles, this is about players taking responsibility and, frankly, not being good enough.
It won't change until United have a squad worthy of the shirt.
And it won't matter who sits on the throne either.
I'd expected at least a bump, more effort, and justification of their positions, but it was still too flat.
Nevertheless, there were enough chances to win this game comfortably, if only we had a Ruud van Nistelrooy or Solskjaer up top.
We might have one or the other on the side before City visit in 10 days' time.
