Solskjaer proud as United dig deep to keep hopes alive
Burnley put up strong fight before two late goals clinch points for hosts
OLE Gunnar Solskjaer praised Manchester United’s resolve after breaking down Burnley’s resistance with two late goals in a hard-fought 3-1 win which kept their slim Premier League title hopes alive.
Solskjaer, who revealed Marcus Rashford was withdrawn in the closing stages because the foot injury he has been nursing for a number of weeks was “too sore”, saw Mason Greenwood open the scoring three minutes after half time.
The lead lasted just 114 seconds as James Tarkowski headed struggling Burnley level, but Greenwood’s deflected effort six minutes from time and substitute Edinson Cavani’s stoppage-time tap-in handed United the spoils.
Victory moved the Red Devils eight points behind leaders Manchester City and while Solskjaer conceded their hopes of catching their crosstown rivals is unrealistic with only six games remaining, the Norwegian has not written off their hopes entirely.
He said: “I’m really proud that we never gave up and that we’ve proven so many times this season our fitness and resilience.
“We came back and scored three goals last week [in a 3-1 win at Tottenham], we’ve scored three goals in the second half here as well.
“Our fitness, confidence and belief has improved so much this season compared to last year. That’s big, big progress.
“[Catching up to City] is probably unrealistic but stranger things have happened in football and we’ve just got to do our job and see what everyone else does.”
Rashford was a doubt for this fixture due to the foot and ankle issues he has had in recent weeks, but he was at the heart of some of United’s best bits of play and teed up Greenwood for United’s opener. However, he was withdrawn just before Greenwood bagged his second of the game, with Cavani adding gloss to the scoreline for United’s fifth successive league victory.
Solskjaer said: “I asked him [Rashford] how he was. Because he played so well and he felt good out there, I was trying to force 90 minutes out of him but he said that he was too sore.
“It’s just pain that comes after he’s played for 60 or 70 minutes. He lasted 80 here so that was progress. I thought he played in the second half so well. He made some great runs in the first half but we didn’t find him.”
Burnley had been undefeated in their four previous visits to Old Trafford and they started well yesterday, with only an off-side flag denying Chris Wood after he beat Dean Henderson to Matt Lowton’s hopeful ball forward.
They fell behind when Rashford ran down the left hand channel and squared to Bruno Fernandes, who allowed the ball to drift through his legs for an unmarked Greenwood to slam a first-time shot beyond Bailey Peacock-Farrell.
Tarkowski rose above Harry Maguire to level but Greenwood restored United’s lead late on, with his shot taking a cruel deviation off Jack Cork, wrong-footing Peacock-Farrell, who was beaten again by Cavani in time added on.
Burnley boss Sean Dyche said: “Overall I was pleased. At 1-1, I think we’re seeing the game out well and we might have a chance of nicking one because it looked like that type of game. But they get one out the blue.
“You’re scratching your head at that stage because I thought we were handling the game very well. You don’t want to cry too much, over the season you need your scratches of your luck.”
A third successive defeat means 17th-placed Burnley sit six points above the relegation zone following Fulham’s draw at Arsenal earlier in the day.
Dyche added: “The mentality in training is very good, the performance was very good, we’ve got to keep showing that in these remaining games.”
Fulham manager Scott
Parker insists there is “absolutely no chance” his side have given up on Premier League survival as he hit out at the decision to allow a last-gasp Arsenal goal to stand in their draw at the Emirates Stadium.
Parker’s side lost to a lastminute goal to Wolves last time out but appeared on course for a first away win over Arsenal following Josh Maja’s secondhalf penalty.
Instead, it was further heartbreak as Eddie Nketiah came off the bench to scramble the ball in from point-blank range to earn the mis-firing Gunners a 1-1 draw.
Asked if another gutwrenching late goal meant their chances of survival had come to an end, Parker’s response was emphatic: “No chance, absolutely no chance.
“This team has shown throughout this season that we can win games, we can come to big football clubs against very big teams and get results and performances. Six points is the difference tonight. Of course there is belief, if something can change that quick, then why would there not be?”
“Of course we are disappointed, I’m gutted. The last two weeks have been a real kick in terms of that but as always you get up tomorrow morning, gloves back on, keep fighting and go again.”