Bruno keeps his nerve to give United a win

Manchester United 2 - 1 Burnley

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes held his nerve to score a stoppage-time penalty and secure a crucial win over Burnley. 

Author | Olivia T

Stadium | Old Trafford

United’s problems in goal threatened to undermine them once again, with Altay Bayindir at fault for Jaidon Anthony’s second equaliser of the afternoon. But the winger’s late mistake⁹ proved decisive as the match entered stoppage time.

Anthony halted Amad’s surge into the area by tugging his shirt. The initial contact was outside the box but continued as the United forward carried his run inside. Referee Sam Barrott first dismissed the penalty appeals before VAR official Stuart Attwell recommended a review.

After four minutes of checks, explanations and Burnley protests, Barrott pointed to the spot. Fernandes, who had missed from 12 yards at Fulham only a week earlier, took a breath and calmly placed his shot into the bottom corner.

An important three points, but problems persist for United

The story of Manchester United’s season so far has been a flicker of good news swiftly followed by a heavy dose of bad.

Barely three minutes separated Casemiro’s header, which struck Josh Cullen after crashing against the crossbar, and Matheus Cunha’s injury that could keep him out for weeks. The £62.5m summer signing from Wolves pulled up chasing a long ball, clutching his hamstring, and made straight for the dressing room after a brief assessment.

From his technical area Ruben Amorim contained his frustration, resisting the urge to hurl a water bottle down the touchline. His side do not play again for a fortnight, but Manchester City and Chelsea lie in wait, with Liverpool also on the horizon. Cunha’s absence may also affect the future of Kobbie Mainoo, whose request to leave on loan Amorim had already opposed. Introduced at half-time to push Bruno Fernandes further forward, Mainoo is now likely to be retained.

Amorim’s challenges extend beyond injuries. United remain in urgent need of a goalkeeper, with talks progressing for Royal Antwerp’s Senne Lammens. Errors in that position continue to cost them. On Wednesday, Andre Onana’s mistake handed Grimsby a goal in their Carabao Cup shock. Against Burnley, Altay Bayindir failed to hold Loum Tchaouna’s strike, diverting the ball to Jaidon Anthony, whose shot ricocheted off Mainoo and Bayindir before finding the net. It almost proved decisive. That United escaped with victory does not lessen the problem.

There were positives to take. Chief among them was Bryan Mbeumo, who marked his £65m arrival from Brentford with a composed finish from Diogo Dalot’s cross, becoming the first player signed under Amorim to score in the Premier League.