Super-sub Smalling lifts United

Manchester United 3 Burnley 1

LOUIS van Gaal is hardly winning over the Manchester United faithful unconditionally in his first season in charge and the fact that this victory required two headed set-piece goals from central defender Chris Smalling and a Robin van Persie penalty to secure it will hardly have won over new converts.

But, with owners Avi and Joel Glazer making a rare appearance in the Old Trafford directors’ box, victory lifted their club into third place in the table and kept United firmly on course for a place in next season’s Champions League.