Burnley 0-0 Man Utd: Winless United held by promoted Clarets

MANCHESTER United still await their first win under manager Louis van Gaal after being held to a goalless draw by newly-promoted Burnley.

The Clarets made a bright start as David Jones hit the crossbar with a free-kick before bringing a fine save from David de Gea with a dipping volley.

Angel di Maria impressed on his debut following £59.7 million move from Real Madrid as the British record signing appeared for 70 minutes before being substituted.

United went closest through Robin van Persie in the first half and had a late penalty appeal turned down for handball against Ashley Barnes.

But after collecting just a point from their first two league games and suffering a shock League Cup exit with a heavy defeat to MK Dons, their stuttering start to the season continued.

The disappointing result reinforces van Gaal’s need to spend before Monday’s transfer deadline with a £13.8 million fee agreed with Ajax for Dutch defender Daley Blind before kick-off.

Burnley had lost their previous three games in all competitions but Sean Dyche’s side, who conceded the fewest goals in the Championship last term, merited their first point of the season for easily containing a United side which lacked a genuine threat for long periods.

The Clarets, who famously beat United at Turf Moor in their previous top-flight campaign in 2009-10, claimed their first goalless draw in the Premier League after 41 games.

United made two changes from their 1-1 draw at Sunderland last weekend with Tom Cleverley and Chris Smalling dropping out while Jonny Evans made his first league appearance in a three-man defence which again included youngster Tyler Blackett.

Burnley piled the pressure on United’s shaky defence in the opening exchanges and went close to taking an early lead.

With the game three minutes old, former United midfielder Jones crashed a free-kick against the top of the crossbar after Phil Jones bundled over Lukas Jutkiewicz 20 yards out.

Moments later, a slack Evans backpass sold de Gea short but the Spanish keeper made a crucial block as Jutkiewicz sought to capitalise.

The Clarets, unchanged for the third league game running after defeats to Chelsea and Swansea, were urged on by the rallying cry from the vocal home support.

As the sunshine emerged from the grey clouds in east Lancashire, United appeared to have settled in possession with di Maria seeing plenty of the ball in central areas.

But his first contribution almost resulted in the breakthrough on 16 minutes as his floated pass forward was taken down on the chest by van Persie, whose instant snapshot from an acute angle was denied by former United reserve keeper Tom Heaton.

Di Maria then supplied a superb cutback which Juan Mata could not connect with from 10 yards as the Burnley defence, figuring captain Jason Shackell and Michael Duff who made his 300th league appearance for the club, crowded him out effectively.

The visitors established a measure of command by bossing the midfield but their ropey defence, still without new recruit Marcos Rojo because of work permit issues, gave the hosts reason to be encouraged.

Matthew Taylor hounded Antonio Valencia into a mistake with Jutkiewicz delivering an inviting cross which was flicked wide by the head of Scott Arfield.

As Burnley continued to carve the clearer openings and exude confidence, Jones pounced on a heavy touch from di Maria 20 yards out to bring a strong tip-over from de Gea with a dipping drive on the half volley.

Arfield then cleverly manoeuvred away from Blackett and United vice-captain Darren Fletcher to fashion space in the box but saw his left-footed shot deflect inches beyond the post.

A growing belief resonated through the Clarets as boss Dyche repeatedly demanded for composure from his players in the technical area.

United were forced to mix up their play as newly appointed England captain Wayne Rooney, on his 400th outing for the club, dropped increasingly deeper.

But they could not find a telling rhythm with several aimless balls forward comfortably dealt with by the Burnley rearguard.

Referee Chris Foy also turned down their penalty appeals before the break when Ashley Young hit the deck under a slight shove from Kieran Trippier.

Burnley’s tenacious approach, typified by the all-action Ben Mee on his 100th appearance for the club, prompted United into numerous unforced errors at the start of the second half.

United showed their ability to up the ante when di Maria closed down Trippier and was tackled sharply by Duff but van Persie’s follow-up from 12 yards was kicked away from in front of his own keeper by Dean Marney.

Burnley remained positive in an attacking sense as Taylor fired tamely into the gloves of de Gea from the edge of the box after Arfield picked him out in space before the former West Ham midfielder drifted a free-kick inches over the top.

In their search for fresh impetus, United made two quick-fire changes as di Maria’s debut was cut short following his recent fitness concerns with Anderson entering the fray while Danny Welbeck replaced an out-of-sorts van Persie in attack.

The Red Devils, who won the side’s previous encounter in January 2010 at Old Trafford, struggled to penetrate through the congested central areas and conjure openings.

Mata fired waywardly over from 15 yards after decent build-up play involving Young and Welbeck down the left.

But the Spanish playmaker was withdrawn five minutes from time with an apparent hamstring problem with Belgian teenager Adnan Januzaj making a late entrance.

As United’s gentle increase in urgency put Burnley on the back foot, another spotkick claim was ignored when Clarets substitute Ashley Barnes appeared to block Young’s shot with his arm.

Wing-back Valencia was heavily involved in the dying embers with several bursts down the right flank to deliver drilled crosses.

However, United could not perform a smash-and-grab raid that would have been harsh on the Clarets as van Gaal’s search for a much-needed win goes on heading into the international break.

The high-profile signing of di Maria was more than Burnley have spent in their 132-year history but there was no difference on the pitch between the sides.

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