Burnley 1-1 Manchester United - Premier League: Paul Pogba goal not enough for visitors

For the second time in four days Manchester United failed to win a game they appeared to be in total control of. Fortunately for them there was no penalty shoot-out at Turf Moor.

Last Friday United slid out of the FA Cup to Middlesbrough after conceding a position of total dominance. Here in Lancashire, they let another lead slip through their fingers and this time the penalty was two vital Premier League points.

Credit to Burnley for making a fist of this after being outplayed and outrun by Ralf Rangnick’s team in the first half. With Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench, United led after 18 minutes through Paul Pogba and had two other goals ruled out. 

Cristiano Ronaldo looks on at the final whistle after Manchester United were held to a 1-1 Premier League draw at Burnley

Jay Rodriguez struck at the start of the second half to claim a point for the side sitting bottom of the Premier League table

Rodriguez celebrates his goal along with team-mate Wout Weghorst in an improved second half performance for the Clarets

But subsequently the Premier League’s bottom club found some impetus from somewhere and were very much United’s equal once new signing Wout Weghorst played Jay Rodriguez through to equalise early in the second half.

Burnley were a different team after half-time and so, it must be said, were United as their early assurance and confidence disappeared among a swirl of tiring limbs. At times under Rangnick United do look much improved. Too often, though, they look exactly the same.

Here there was another improved performance from Pogba. The French international is expected to leave for nothing this summer and the verdict on his six years back at the club where he grew up will be a negative one. On nights like this, when he sees passes and scores good goals, it is hard to work out just what has been out of place all this time.

Jadon Sancho was impressive too. His work with Luke Shaw down the left side in the first half cut Burnley open at will. Marcus Rashford also looks back to some kind of better form. His running was direct and, crucially for a forward, he looks to have goals in him again.

Pogba (second right, partly hidden) had given Manchester United a first half lead in a dominant display by the visitors

The midfielder celebrates his goal that gave United a deserved lead as the visitors laid siege to the home side in the first half

Ralf Rangnick reacts from the touchline following another game where his side failed to take advantage of their dominance

But still United did not win. Last Friday’s opponents were from the Championships while Tuesday night’s will probably be playing there next season. Before the recent winter break, meanwhile, United beat West Ham 1-0 with the last kick of a dreadful game and also struggled dismally at Brentford before winning there.

So United’s direction of travel under Rangnick remains uncertain and rather haphazard. Certainly it is a puzzle that such a talented and expensively assembled team of players cannot seem to play well for 90 minutes. Rangnick does like his teams to press the opposition in a manner previous United managers have not. Maybe it is a fitness thing. If it is then it’s a pretty weak excuse.

Here on a wet night in Burnley, United were so far the better team in the first half that it seemed impossible to predict a Burnley revival.

United’s goal arrived quite early and was a really good one. Sancho had hitherto been the most dangerous player but on this occasion it was Rashford who moved on to a slipped pass from Shaw and when he pulled the ball back to the middle of the penalty area Pogba drove it high in to the net for his first goal since returning from injury. 

Raphael Varane had a headed goal ruled out early in the game, after a foul from Harry Maguire (out of picture)

Edinson Cavani (centre) also missed out on opportunities to find the net having replaced Cristiano Ronaldo in the team

Eventually the Uruguayan departed to be replaced by Ronaldo as the rain fell heavily during the second half at Turf Moor

It was a lead that United deserved even then and it was one they thought they had secured six minutes earlier when Rafael Varane moved in behind Erik Pieters at the far post to head in a Rashford free-kick.

But what looked like a perfectly good goal was ruled out on the advice of the VAR officials when it emerged that Harry Maguire had returned from an offside position to barge in to James Tarkowski.

It was a marginal call but it’s perhaps worth remembering that Aston Villa had a goal ruled out at Old Trafford in similar circumstances in an FA Cup tie last month.

United were not to be denied their goal soon enough, though, and saw another one chalked off a few minutes later. Again the danger came from the United left but this time Pogba was adjudged to have fouled Pieters before the ball ricocheted off a Burnley leg in to the net. 

Nick Pope claws the ball behind his goal late on in the game as Burnley opted to settle for a well deserved point

Wout Weghorst had a lively game in attack for the Clarets following his January transfer window move to replace Chris Wood

Anthony Elanga of Manchester United (right) and Raphael Varane interact following the full-time whistle at Turf Moor

Burnley boss Sean Dyche applauds the supporters, although his side have still only won one Premier League game this term

Technically, then, Burnley were still in it. It didn’t really feel that way but the second period was only two minutes old when Weghorst made mugs of three United players – most notably Maguire – with a sharp turn to play in Rodriguez.

Back on terms, Burnley were transformed. Rodriguez went on to become the game’s best player and was hauled down by Maguire when threatening to run clear. Weghorst was also impressive, bringing a low save from De Gea with a sharp shot from distance.

United threw on Ronaldo as they sought to regain momentum and he headed one chance over while Varane was denied by Nick Pope at close quarters. But there was no late charge from United. Their belief had gone the same way as their legs. Strange.

Manchester United will be looking to bounce back from their shock FA Cup defeat by Middlesbrough when they visit bottom side Burnley to help kick-off the midweek Premier League action.

There are three games in total on Tuesday night, with a huge battle down at the bottom seeing Newcastle United host Everton at St James' Park.

Meanwhile Watford are looking to escape the bottom three in the table when they visit Champions League chasing West Ham.

Follow Sportsmail's DAN RIPLEY for live Premier League coverage, including build-up, team news and updates with three matches taking place, being Newcastle vs Everton, West Ham vs Watford and Burnley vs Manchester United.