Bruno Fernandes problem rears its head as Man Utd fall short at Burnley - 5 talking points

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Ruben Amorim is gone, but Manchester United's failings remain as caretaker boss Darren Fletcher saw his side fail to win at Burnley.

Benjamin Sesko scored twice for the Red Devils early in the second half and, in truth, should have won this game for the visitors, but Jaidon Anthony's fine 66th minute strike earned Burnley a share of the spoils.

Sesko's double - two very impressive finishes - wiped out Burnley's opener from Bashir Humphreys inside the opening 13 minutes, his cross deflecting off Ayden Heaven and looping over Senne Lammens into the net. Fletcher would have been cursing his luck.

Shea Lacey almost won it late in the day, a sumptuous 25-yarder hitting Martin Dubravka's crossbar. But in truth, United lacked the craft and quality required to win here, particularly when a 70 percent fit Bruno Fernandes had departed the scene on the hour mark.

Here are five talking points from Turf Moor...

One man who has been getting a fair bit of credit for his recent performances has been young centre-back Ayden Heaven.

Despite the team’s recent inconsistencies, he has impressed at the heart of a defence shorn of Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire , with Lisandro Martinez easing his way back and Leny Yoro having been more out than in lately.

But his role in Burnley ’s opener after 12 minutes deserves scrutiny because, frankly, it wasn’t good enough.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t sensed the danger as the Clarets went down the left side. It’s that he was far too sluggish in getting himself over to it. He knew the run hadn’t been tracked, that Dalot was caught higher up. But he ambled out rather than sprinting and getting close. Had he done that, then he wouldn’t have suffered the misfortune of deflecting the cross into his own net.

It was simple, basic defending. He didn’t do it and United were punished. To add to the ignominy, Heaven becomes the youngest United player to score a Premier League own goal, aged 19 years and 107 days.

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It was always going to happen wasn't it. The moment Ruben Amorim was out the door, that 3-4-3 formation he was wedded to was going with him. And so it did.

But a return to a back four for one of Fergie's favourite sons didn't stop United from suffering a frustrating evening against a side who haven't won since October.

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Bruno Fernandes is Manchester United's best player. He is also still only at the club thanks to Ruben Amorim.

Thankfully for United fans, the club's former head coach made clear to his captain last summer that he was crucial to his plans and shouldn't go to Saudi Arabia - at a time when the player felt the club hierarchy were happy to see him go.

United remain over-reliant on their captain. He wasn't fully fit here, but just over 24 hours after being out at a coffee shop with Amorim's No.2 - in what by all accounts was a pretty sorrowful farewell - gave his caretaker boss 60 minutes and produced an outstanding slide-rule pass to get Sesko in behind to fire United level.

Whoever is the next manager - be it permanent or interim - Fernandes remains the United player who is a top-level difference maker. But Amorim's exit and the spectre of Saudi means his long-term future is very much back under the microscope.

Which is a big problem. Because when he doesn't play, United lose their way.

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Which they did here. On the 60 minute mark, Fernandes was substituted. Six minutes later, Burnley were level.

"It's a beautiful strike from Jaidon Anthony," said Gary Neville on commentary for Sky Sports . "It's come out of nowhere when Man Utd were well on top."

But that isn't strictly true. Yes, for the first 15 minutes of the second half, United had been dominant, scoring twice and going ahead. But the moment Fernandes departed the scene, the team visibly shrunk. Suddenly, players didn't look comfortable taking possession and trying to dominate a game against the side in 19th place.

And this didn't take time to happen. This happened within seconds. The home side were suddenly emboldened as United dropped closer to their own goal, the visitors were sloppy near their own box again - this time Lisandro Martinez not closing down the way he should - and Anthony curled an wonderful strike into the top corner.

You have to wonder whether those United chiefs - who may or may not have been in the directors' box at Turf Moor - still think they can do without Fernandes. Because this period of this game, like the entirety of the dismal home draw with Wolves , highlighted that this team cannot.

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Manchester United's giant striker scored twice, should have had more and showed with his movement, speed and quick feet that he can be a real menace to opposing defences. His two finishes for his goals were brilliant. Both taken clinically, both finishes that oozed class.

But they were by no means the only chances the former RB Leipzig hitman had. In fact he had more shots on target (7) than any other player has managed in a Premier League game this term. The problem was the standard of his shooting on those other chances - some of which weren't anything like as difficult as his second - left a hell of a lot to be desired.

A little it more composure and he would have had his hat-trick.

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