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Paul Pogba fired Manchester United to the top of the Premier League as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer\u2019s men ground out an important victory at Burnley.<\/p>\nPaul Pogba fired Manchester United to the top of the Premier League as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer\u2019s men ground out an important victory at Burnley.<\/p>\n
The Red Devils had won their previous four visits to Turf Moor and knew a positive result would move them top at this stage of the season for the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson bowed out as champion in 2012-13.<\/p>\n
Pogba\u2019s second-half strike was the difference as United secured the result their dominance deserved at Burnley, with the 1-0 triumph giving them a three-point cushion over Liverpool heading into Sunday\u2019s mouth-watering Anfield encounter.<\/p>\n
The video assistant referee provided the main talking point of a tense opening period, with last man Robbie Brady avoiding sanction for bringing down Edinson Cavani due to a Luke Shaw foul in the build-up.<\/p>\n
The left-back, who was booked for his hefty challenge on Johann Berg Gudmundsson, soon swung in a cross that Harry Maguire headed home from an acute angle, only to be ruled out for an apparent foul on Erik Pieters.<\/p>\n
The United skipper was furious that the decision was not reviewed and his side flew out of the blocks in the second half.<\/p>\n
Solskjaer\u2019s men completely controlled proceedings and Pogba came up trumps in the 71st minute, firing home at end of a move he started via a slight Matthew Lowton deflection.<\/p>\n
Tuesday\u2019s match was played out in sub-zero temperatures in Lancashire, where the home side attempted to make things uncomfortable from the outset with balls into the box and dogged defensive play.<\/p>\n
Cavani was angry to caught by the arm of Ben Mee as United looked to make early attacking headway, but it took 17 minutes for them to muster a shot and Nick Pope dealt with Bruno Fernandes\u2019 attempt.<\/p>\n
Anthony Martial saw an overhead kick blocked as United looked to find a way through, but Burnley were nearly gifted an opener by Fernandes.<\/p>\n
Sean Dyche\u2019s men pounced on the Portuguese\u2019s uncharacteristically heavy touch and made a series of quick passes, resulting in a close-range Chris Wood shot that Eric Bailly blocked and sent looping over his own goal.<\/p>\n
Martial bent over wastefully soon before controversy reigned at Turf Moor, where Shaw smashed into a challenge with Gudmundsson and launched a rapid break that ended with Cavani being brought down by last man Brady.<\/p>\n
Referee Kevin Friend inexplicably only booked the Republic of Ireland international, leading both teams to fume at the official about the other side\u2019s challenge.<\/p>\n
There was a lengthy VAR review of the passage of play and a red card against Brady was ruled out after Friend went to the monitor, with that yellow rescinded and Shaw instead booked.<\/p>\n
There was more controversy soon after when Maguire saw a headed opener ruled out for an apparent foul on Pieters when rising to meet Shaw\u2019s cross.<\/p>\n
Aggrieved United continued to push for an opener as half-time approached, with Martial\u2019s curling effort bound for the top corner until Pope pushed over.<\/p>\n
Shaw saw penalty appeals ignored and fuming Fernandes was handed a yellow card, with Maguire having a long chat with referee Friend at half-time.<\/p>\n
United returned strongly and Cavani fluffed his lines shortly after the restart, with Marcus Rashford and Fernandes seeing low shots saved as pressure continued to mount on the Clarets.<\/p>\n
Pope stopped a hopeful Fernandes strike and Cavani bent wide of the far post after wriggling free at a corner as it began to feel like one that would get away until Pogba\u2019s 71st-minute strike.<\/p>\n
The midfielder won the header that started a move he finished with aplomb, volleying home Rashford\u2019s cross from the right as the ball flew home via a deflection off Lowton.<\/p>\n
The relief was as palpable and United looked to add another, with James Tarkowksi producing an important last-ditch challenge on Martial.<\/p>\n
Josh Brownhill struck wide and substitute Matej Vydra saw an effort deflected into the side netting by Bailly as Burnley launched a late attack, with the VAR checking a handball against Maguire in the box.<\/p>\n
Things ended nervily as Tarkowski miscued a shot, with Shaw needing treatment and Martial wasting a later chance to put things to bed.<\/p>\n