Blake's heaven as United lose

Blake volley enough for Burnley as Carrick misses spot-kick

Last updated: 19th August 2009

Blake's heaven as United lose

Blake: Match-winner

MATCH FACTS

Man of the match - Brian Jensen: The Beast saved a first-half penalty before making a string of incredible stops after half-time.

Save of the match - Jensen from Michael Carrick: There are any number of contenders here, not least a superb stop from Park Ji-sung, but the penalty stop was a match-defining moment.

Miss of the match - Michael Owen: Two minutes in, Patrice Evra presented Owen with a gilt-edged chance to open the scoring, but he completely miscued.

Talking point: Does Sir Alex Ferguson need to go back into the market and bring in another game-changing player?

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Burnley stunned Manchester United as they won 1-0 at Turf Moor to claim their first top-flight victory in 33 years.

United had a glorious opportunity to take the lead in the opening two minutes through Michael Owen, but Burnley soon started to apply the pressure and they had their reward when Robbie Blake rifled home a volley in the 19th minute.

The visitors struggled to make any headway in the aftermath, but they were presented with a penalty just before half-time when Blake clumsily up-ended Patrice Evra.

However, Clarets goalkeeper Brian Jensen managed to turn away Michael Carrick's spot-kick to leave his side 1-0 up at the interval.

United were able to create more attacking opportunities in the second half, but a superb performance from Jensen kept the champions at bay.

Changes

As expected, Ferguson had rung the changes, recalling Carrick, Park Ji-sung and Anderson, as well as handing Michael Owen his first start.

The United boss was buoyed by Jonny Evans declaring himself fit to partner Wes Brown in central defence, which at least gave the Red Devils back line a more durable look.

Not that it seemed as though they would need it as Burnley rocked badly in the opening stages, struggling to get their bearings on a Turf Moor pitch that has waited so long to host top flight action.

Owen should have done better when Patrice Evra's left-wing cross flashed past him at the near-post and, with Park, Carrick and Wayne Rooney all finding space, it seemed only a matter of time before United broke the deadlock.

Yet the opening goal did not come and, as time ticked by, Burnley visibly gained in confidence.

Martin Paterson and record signing Steven Fletcher were both starting to cause problems when The Clarets launched a concerted raid on the visitors' goal.

Paterson thought he was going to score when he sprang the United offside trap, only to find Ben Foster there to make the block, and Carrick followed suit as Blake tried to turn home the rebound.

United could not relieve the pressure though and, when former Manchester City full-back Stephen Jordan drifted a cross to the far post, Blake was on hand to let fly with a superbly-struck volley that was past Foster before he had a chance to react.

United tried to find a response but, in front of Fabio Capello, Owen completely missed his intended header when Brown curled over a near-post cross that found the striker unmarked.

Penalty

The odds must have been on Owen taking the penalty when Evra was fouled by Blake as he nicked the ball towards Burnley's goal.

Instead, Carrick took responsibility - and Jensen emerged the hero, just as he did last season when his spot-kick saves turfed Chelsea out of the Carling Cup.

Jensen must have expected to be kept busy after the interval but, although United dominated possession, they still had surprisingly few clear-cut chances.

A long-range effort from Rooney that sailed harmlessly over was the best they could manage until Park created a bit of space for himself and forced Jensen into a fine full-length save, with Jordan hammering away the rebound.

Substitutions

By that time, Antonio Valencia and Dimitar Berbatov had been introduced; Owen making way after another disappointing contribution.

The pair made a difference, but Burnley were not to be denied, throwing themselves in the way of any United threat.

Jensen was a rock behind a sturdy defence and the final whistle ended a run of 17 straight wins for United against newly-promoted sides.

More importantly, it marked Burnley's return to the elite.

BurnleyTeam StatisticsManchester United
1Goals0
11st Half Goals0
3Shots on Target4
6Shots off Target9
0Blocked Shots6
1Corners13
8Fouls12
0Offsides2
2Yellow Cards1
0Red Cards0
69.7Passing Success79.9
9Tackles14
66.7Tackles Success92.9
32.7Possession67.3
42.1Territorial Advantage57.9

Comments (48)

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Jonathan Mallett (Manchester United fan) says...

How Michael Carrick is still in the first 11 at man united amazes me. He has maybe had 5 good matches since we signed him. He is not the replacement to Scholes.Sir Alex open your eyes. Carrick is nothing but a bench warmer. As for the rest of the squad pitiful with the exception of Gigs and Evra.

Posted 14:14 20th August 2009

Davide Marton (Manchester United fan) says...

Everybody needs to calm down. Last year Numancia got relegated from La Liga but they beat Barcelona 1-0 at home in the first game of the season. Everybody thought it was all doom and gloom for Barca as they thought they weren't the same team without Ronaldinho who was sold a few weeks before that game. Come the end of the season, Barca rewrote Spanish football history by winning the treble and scoring over 100 goals during the season. Therefore I think that we should not write off Ferguson and his men so early. Yes it was an embarrassing defeat. But we need to remember how good all these players are. Giggs won PFA player of the season last season. Rooney is one of the best strikers in the world. Evra arguably the best left back in the world. Carrick is a top class deep lying playmaker who is a better all round player than the likes of Pirlo. Berbatov is a technically gifted player who was at the heart of all man utd's build up play last season only for ronaldo and rooney to get all the praise. Park's movement and work rate can pester any team in the world. Anderson and Fletcher are very competitive and possess tremendous athleticism and work rate and their technical ability should not be underestimated. I could do this for every player but I won't (have not even mentioned Rio, Vida, Edwin or Scholes). Yes Ronaldo is the greatest player on earth but we do have fantastic footballers at this club. The likes of anderson, park, o'shea and fletcher put in excellent performances throughout last season against the likes of Porto and Arsenal in the champions league. What I see is that we have arguably the best squad in the world, the most succesful manager of all time and arguably the best defence in the world. We have 36 games to make up a 3 point gap. Premature to write us off? In terms of forwards and midfielders, the only teams that I think are arguably better are barca and chelsea. Madrid? we'll see

Posted 14:03 20th August 2009

Mac Mcmac (Manchester United fan) says...

WAKE UP UNITED!!! Fergie has to face up to the fact that we need to strengthen to move forward. We have just had the most depressing closed season in years. First we lost 2 great players, then we had to sit by and watch as every possible replacement got signed up by our rivals. The other day Bayern admitted that Ribery would have gone if the price was right. I can't imagine Ribery doing anything but strengthening our current overrated (by Sir Alex) squad. Play Rooney in the centre of midfield and spend whatever it takes to sign Torres from that lot down the road. If not him then Van Persie, Defoe, Anelka, somebody, anybody who can stick the ball in the net!!! WAKE UP UNITED or we wont just not win the fourth in a row but we will be lucky to finish in the top four!!

Posted 13:27 20th August 2009

Nick Tandy (Manchester United fan) says...

Park, Nani, Carrick,Berbatov, could all of been shown the door would have not made a difference to the team, would have allowed Fergie to spend on a couple of proper midfielders with quality.. Fabregas?Essien?Arshavin? Ribbery?Robben list could go on. Why is a player ( carrick) who seldom has a shot on target taking penalties??? Get the cheque book out fergie!!!

Posted 13:27 20th August 2009

Alan Cooney (Manchester United fan) says...

It's only two games into the season and already everyone is panicking! It is only one defeat same as liverpool. Yes Utd were bad but they still had enough chances to win the game. If Carrick had scored the peno we would have gone onto the win game. It's only early in the season and more top teams will lose at Turf Moor this season. In saying that i don't think we will win the league this season, Chelsea are my favourites anyway. As for those saying we a need an attacking midfielder who do you suggest. The only one i can think of is Veloso apart from that not a lot of options i think. Come the end of the season Utd, Pool, Arsenal and Chelsea will all be there.

Posted 13:15 20th August 2009

Joseph Eymann (Manchester United fan) says...

What a joke thinking we will win the Premiership for a 4th time. Park, Carrick, Anderson are worth maybe one world class midfielder. For Giggs, being the oldest player on the field at Burnley and still being Man U's best player says a lot about our performance. I think when Ferdinand and Vidic are back and Sir Alex bring in a creative world class midfielder we might be able to challenge for honours this season.

Posted 09:56 20th August 2009

Jason Lowden (Burnley fan) says...

Great result and great to see some of the over paid players of modern football humbled. All i could hear on the news before the game was the state of the visitors dressing room etc. Tough is a game of football not a 5* holiday as most players think now grow up and a reminder of the real world the rest of us live in.

Posted 09:55 20th August 2009

John Clarke (Chelsea fan) says...

Some great results last night and congratulations to Burnley and Spurs. The season is 38 games so people of all clubs should not get carried away with the results good or bad so far. Things change in football, so my guess is it will be a great season.

Posted 09:42 20th August 2009

Jonathan Hall (Manchester United fan) says...

Last night summed up what could be a very bad season for United. Besides Carrick and Giggs in midfield all the players are sub standard( maybe Fletcher should be included in our better midfielders). And Giggs can't play every game. Valencia looks as fit as Roy Chubby Brown, and Paul Scholes isn't worth having in the squad and should go to oldham now. Anderson has apparently been promising for 2 seasons but looks worse than ever. Park Ji Sung works hard but so would I if I was given a red united shirt. He doesnt score goals, and doesnt assist, he';s not worth having on the pitch.Michael Owen showed superb movement and played well with his back to goal, but there's noone to create him the chances he needs. Wayne Rooney will never be in the same league as Ronaldo. FERGIE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE BUY A CREATIVE MIDFIELD PLAYER BEFORE ITS TOO LATE.

Posted 09:41 20th August 2009

Mark Ponting (Manchester United fan) says...

Park is not a bad player, he is a player Man United need to keep, he is a team player with lots of experience and you never hear stoires of him complaining about not getting enough games, he seems to be happy playing now and then, also no one complained when he scored against Arsenal in the CL semi final, Last night was just a bad performance by United which they seem to have against smaller clubs (no disrespect to Burnley) now and then. Who is to say if United had Ronaldo he would of scored last night, he scored alot of goals for United but he didnt score in every game, I think football fans need to concentrate on United now because thier team this season will be challenging for the title!!!!

Posted 09:32 20th August 2009

Lee Demain (Manchester United fan) says...

Giggs is still absolute quality against teams like Burnley and stoke, park is a workman who should come on to provide his energy toward the end of games, I see Aguero terrorised last night and scored, he wants to look at splashing out on someone like him because Valancia to me looks like a mid table player, we need a cutting edge that Ronaldo took with him.

Posted 09:23 20th August 2009

Billy Cox (Manchester United fan) says...

I agree with Mark Tierney, though Arsenal, he has said what has been on my mind from the time we offloaded Ronaldo. Honestly, we need someone whos is going to be consistent upfront. We need new blood Fergie. Better still try Maceda for him to gain confidence, you know that boy is a wonder

Posted 09:22 20th August 2009

Martin Deakins (Manchester United fan) says...

Everyone's banging on about how Utd are missing Ronaldo. This time last season they were all saying we couldn't repeat the feats of the previous season, and look how that ended. Man Utd always start just about every PL season poorly, it is just the way Utd are. Admittedly, was not expecting this result but all fairness to Burnley, they got a deserved 3 points.

Posted 09:22 20th August 2009

Zeus Dormer (Manchester United fan) says...

All us United fans were very criticle of Chelseas diamond formation, what was that last night from United. No true wingers - forget Giggs - he played in the middle at the expense of Anderson who played the widest man on the left. The team had no width, I can only presume Nani and Tosic were injured, both certainly need to be rested. It was better when the width of Valencia came on but it was just one of those nights. Everyone played to about 70%, no one really was that terrible and noone shone. Weve been laughing at Chelseas diamond formation but im sure today their laughing at our cubic zarconium.

Posted 09:18 20th August 2009

Kev Pearson (Manchester United fan) says...

What a strike to give Burnley the win! Can i just say to any supposed Manutd fan, this is what happens in football, with one defeat, one bad performance on the 2nd day of the season, you should not be questioning them already. If we were to spend £40m on another player it doesnt mean we are going to win anything. With what Sir Alex has done for Utd, we should not be questioning his judgement after 1 defeat. Well done Burnley!!....oh...and...BRING ON WIGAN!

Posted 09:17 20th August 2009

Jeff Hoyland (Manchester City fan) says...

Bring on United, they have nothing to offer. A team of the past living in the past. We have a far brighter blue future ahead of us. Our investment will prove fruitfull, Fergies scottish mean attitude to spending on only one mediocre player will be his undoing. The red's are almost senile in their playing style, much like their master Fergie.

Posted 09:05 20th August 2009

Parwez Nm (Manchester United fan) says...

C'mon Ferguson, we need to offload some players like Park, Carrick, Brown, OShea and Anderson since they are not up to the level to play for a team like Manchester United. We need some experienced midfielder and also a very sharp forward. Yesterday's match was only the tip of the iceberg that is coming to hit man United. We need to do some changes before it is too late.

Posted 09:04 20th August 2009

Parwez Nm (Manchester United fan) says...

C'mon Ferguson, we need to offload some players like Park, Carrick, Brown, OShea and Anderson since they are not up to the level to play for a team like Manchester United. We need some experienced midfielder and also a very sharp forward. Yesterday's match was only the tip of the iceberg that is coming to hit man United. We need to do some changes before it is too late

Posted 09:01 20th August 2009

Ste Walton (Liverpool fan) says...

Right now that i've stopped laughing.... Calm down - we're only 2 games into the season! 3 points each from two games - the challenge is still very much on!

Posted 08:58 20th August 2009

Rich Elliott (Derby County fan) says...

My other half is a Burnley season ticket holder and I''ve been to a fair few matches with her, inlcuding their 5-0 drubbing of Forest last season (not to mention their 0-1 win at the City Ground aswell!) and the play off final at Wembley. The Burnley faithful are just that - faithful fans, doggedly supporting the Clarets through thick and thin, and they've had their fair share of thin! It's fantastic to see Burnley back in the top flight, the team and the fans deserve nothing less. A win in their first home game against the league champions will give them a massive boost, here's hoping they can make a better fist of things than my lads did a couple of years back.

Posted 08:55 20th August 2009
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