Manchester United squeeze past Burnley with controversial Fernandes penalty

It is easy to see why Ruben Amorim has developed a love-hate relationship with his players after a 97th-minute Bruno Fernandes penalty controversially earned Manchester United’s first win of the season. The result should not have been in doubt but poor finishing and defending meant the hosts had to rely on the referee, Sam Barrott, to visit the pitchside monitor and overturn his own decision.

Josh Cullen’s own goal gave United a deserved lead they should have built on but Lyle Foster and Jaidon Anthony were twice allowed to equalise either side of Bryan Mbeumo scoring United’s second in 11 chaotic second-half minutes. The match was heading for a draw until it was belatedly judged that Anthony had pulled down Amad Diallo and the United captain did the rest to send Old Trafford wild, while Burnley fumed. But once again, as at Grimsby in the Carabao Cup, Amorim did not watch the penalty.

Things should have been far easier for United. There was an early intensity here as the supporters inspired the players and vice versa. The aggression on and off the field was designed to intimidate Burnley, and it had the potential to work. United had all the possession in the initial stages, and looked sharper in mind and foot than at Grimsby as they attempted to play through the visitors, creating numerous half chances without testing goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.

The former Manchester City captain Kyle Walker was the most unpopular man in the stadium. He was booed when his name was read out and every time he touched the ball. He tried to curry favour when a desperately poor clearance was blocked by Mason Mount, who collected the ball and drove towards the box, with Walker pulling at him. A foul was committed and looked like the only debate was whether the indiscretion happened inside or outside of the box. Barrott decided it was a penalty but VAR sent him to review the footage on the monitor and minutes after the original decision, the referee joined Walker in the bad books when he changed his mind.

If there were any fears of a divide at United, injustice is a good tool to unify everyone. Technology worked in their favour when the referee’s watch bleeped to say the ball had crossed the line after Casemiro’s header had struck the bar and bounced in off Cullen’s back before Dubravka could act. Even if the manner was fortuitous, the goal was thoroughly merited.

Jaidon Anthony (centre) makes it 2-2 against Manchester United Photograph: Adam Vaughan/EPA

Knowing how to control a game when ahead is an art they are yet to master, as the draw at Fulham showed. Burnley also realised they needed to move from a passive to progressive mindset and push forward. Hannibal Mejbri could have marked his return to Old Trafford with a goal but fired over from 10 yards to at least warn his former teammates.

United resettled after Matheus Cunha was forced off injured and replaced by Joshua Zirkzee. A second should have arrived from a dynamic break in first-half stoppage time but Amad Diallo fluffed his lines from close range.

After 55 minutes of positivity and with the thought of long-term optimism starting to creep in, it was flushed away when Jacob Bruun Larsen swung in a perfect cross for the unmarked Lyle Foster to jab home from close range to begin a manic period of the match.

With Old Trafford stunned into silence, the mindset was that of fearing the worst. Direct play changed that when Diogo Dalot reached Zirkzee’s flick and pulled the ball back into Mbeumo’s path for his first home goal as a United player as fans rediscovered their voice 90 seconds after going mute.

Structure had been forgotten, producing a riotous tempo. While the celebrations for United’s second died down, Foster had a goal ruled out for offside but the hosts were fragile. Once again, a set piece in front of the Stretford End was United’s undoing. They failed to clear the ball, allowing Loum Tchaouna to fire a shot which Altay Bayindir parried straight to Anthony to bundle home a third goal in nine minutes to conclude the immediate disorder – but there was more to come.

Fitting with the helter-skelter nature of the game, Barrott gave nothing after Diallo ended up on the turf inside the box. He ran to the referee who eventually went to review the incident and decided Anthony had held on too long. Burnley were incensed but Fernandes shut out the noise before creating euphoria, as troubles are briefly forgotten and pressure is relieved until the Manchester derby in two weeks.