Manchester United’s Darren Fletcher failed to produce what the interim manager, fans and executives craved: a cathartic victory to move the club on quickly from the recent turbulence.
United’s biggest plus was Benjamin Sesko, whose two goals doubled his season tally, plus the support being in good cheer despite the inability to dispatch the division’s second-bottom side.
When Ayden Heaven turned into his goal, Burnley were headed for a first win since 26 October. But Sesko stepped up to show whoever replaces Fletcher as the temporary man, until the season end, he may be about to catch fire – before Jaidon Anthony netted a memorable Burnley equaliser.
Ole Gunnar Solskjær is the favourite and the sight, too, of Shea Lacey hitting the bar should cheer him or whoever next takes the caretaker role, as will Kobbie Mainoo, another United starlet, also entering as a late replacement.
After the dour Ruben Amorim era the joke was whether Fletcher would belie a 25-year association with United by sending out the same dour three-man defence. He did not, of course – his configuration a 4-2-3-1 that had the returning Bruno Fernandes as the sole No 10 behind Sesko.
