MASON BACK
Greenwood underlines his return to form with double
IF at times it has been a difficult second full season for Mason Greenwood, the young Manchester United striker is at least finishing it strongly.
Two goals here and a hand in a third helped United ease past Burnley and cement Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s grip on second place in the table.
They were the 19-year-old’s fourth and fifth goals in the past six matches after a barren run which stretched over 15 games from late January to mid March – and they showed he has not lost his eye for goal.
Edinson Cavani added a third in injury time as victory for Solskjaer’s side meant they stretched their lead over third-placed Leicester City to 10 points, having played a game more.
Burnley will have felt a weight lift from their shoulders after Arsenal’s late equaliser against Fulham.
Six points clear of trouble and with a game in hand, a fifth consecutive season in the top flight looks assured for the Clarets.
They very nearly enjoyed a dream start here, too, Chris Wood heading in from
Matt Lowton’s cross with Dean Henderson flapping, only for the goal to be ruled offside.
United’s best chance in the first half came when Bruno Fernandes picked out Marcus Rashford at the back post and his first-time ball flashed just in front of Greenwood’s outstretched foot.
Three minutes into the second half the same trio got their timing right.
Greenwood applied the final touch, crashing a shot inside the far post, but the build-up made it, Rashford nutmegging
Lowton and passing to Fernandes who let the ball go through his legs after shaping to shoot.
The lead lasted just two minutes, James Tarkowski, below, outmuscling Aaron WanBissaka and Harry Maguire to meet Ashley Westwood’s corner.
Burnley held out for a while but eventually pressure told.
Greenwood fired a second home via a deflection from Jack Cork and then another nicely worked team goal involving Greenwood, Fernandes and Donny van de Beek was finished off by Cavani.
MAN UTD (4-2-3-1): Henderson 5; Wan-Bissaka 6, Lindelof 6, Maguire 6, Shaw 6; McTominay 7, Fred 5 (Cavani 45, 7); Greenwood 9, Fernandes 7, Pogba 5; Rashford 8 (Van de Beek 84). Goals: Greenwood (48, 84), Cavani (90).
BURNLEY (4-4-2): Peacock-Farrell 6; Lowton 7, Tarkowski 7, Mee 6, Taylor 6; Gudmundsson 5 (Rodriguez 87), Westwood 6, Cork 7, McNeil 6; Brownhill 7 (Vydra 88), Wood 7. Goal: Tarkowski 50.