Ole Gunnar Solskjaer used to play in Manchester United teams that never knew they were beaten and the caretaker manager now seems to be transmitting that to his own players.
He has evoked the spirit of Alex Ferguson in more ways than one, but this was the first time his team had been behind during his short tenure and they responded in true United fashion.
Sure, when the dust settles on this chaotic, enthralling game, Solskjaer will doubtless rue the unexpected end to an eight-match winning streak but, from two goals down against an obdurate, ruthless Burnley, United produced a grandstand finish to preserve the Norwegian’s unbeaten start.
Paul Pogba’s 87th-minute penalty, following a pull-back by Jeff Hendrick on Jesse Lingard, kick-started the fightback after goals from Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood had seemingly put Burnley on course for an unlikely victory.
But Victor Lindelof grabbed a dramatic equaliser in the second minute of stoppage time on the rebound after the magnificent Tom Heaton produced a stunning save to keep out Alexis Sanchez’s header from point-blank range.
It is a sign of how quickly the outlook has changed at Old Trafford that the first 45 minutes here would have constituted a complete thrill under Jose Mourinho, Louis van Gaal and David Moyes but, in the context of Solskjaer’s electric start, it felt a shade underwhelming.
United struggled to catch a break – Marcus Rashford missed a glorious chance, Juan Mata was just offside when he ran in behind and forced a save, Lukaku was harshly penalised for a foul when drawing a stunning stop from Heaton – and all the while Burnley were becoming emboldened. Sean Dyche said Burnley lost that “eye of the tiger” in the first half of the campaign, but they certainly had it here. Dogged, disciplined, tremendous work ethic and, when it mattered, a clinical touch.
Their goal originated from a mistake from Andreas Pereira. Receiving a pass from Phil Jones centrally, Pereira dawdled and was dispossessed by Jack Cork. Having won the ball, he displayed a cool head to slip a pass into Barnes, who fired first time past David De Gea.
Pereira lasted another 11 minutes before being withdrawn for Lingard – and soon after Sanchez replaced Lukaku.
This was the Pereira’s first league start since he was substituted at half-time against Brighton in August and when Solskjaer talked this week about the likes of the Brazilian taking his chance, this is not what the young midfielder had in mind.
United were now in uncharted territory under Solskjaer. This was the first time they had been behind under him. Could they summon a response?
Dwight McNeil – once of United – let rip with a piledriver that De Gea needed both fists to punch clear, but Burnley began to get pushed further back.
United perhaps sensed it might not be their night when Ashley Westwood appeared to handle the ball after Mata’s cross was only partially cleared, but play was waved on despite a torrent of appeals.
Heaton made an excellent reflex save to deny Lukaku, but United were struggling to find a way past the fog of bodies and, nine minutes from time, Burnley again pounced decisively.
Substitute Johann Berg Gudmundsson laid the ball off for Westwood, who clipped a cross to the far post where Wood rose to nod home before Ashley Young could offer much of a challenge.