Lukaku’s Double Dooms Burnley

Here's the philosophical question:

Did the quintessential Romelu Lukaku just save José Mourinho's job for the time being?

Here's the existential question:

Has Burnley's first foray into Europe since forever stretched their roster beyond its limits?

The answers, in order and in light of Manchester United's 0-2 triumph, are possibly and definitely.

 

The Clarets have been at it for six weeks, now, just falling outta the Europa League competition via an aggregate loss to Olympiakos. As opposed to the extra matches allowing them more time to jell, it appears like Burnley's workload has become an issue in the Premiership's early going.

At least, now they can focus on what keeps the coffers full.

 

United started threatening Joe Hart from the 2nd minute, with Jesse Lingard being the most dangerous. The afternoon's tone was set.

The Devils kept pressing Burnley until the inevitable first goal came in the 27th. Alexis Sanchez’s cross from the left found Lukaku, who headed a bullet beyond Hart:

 

It's not really a shock that there were already nine Clarets behind the ball. The SMH factor was their looking so paralyzed while Paul Pogba was juking around among them.

In the 44th, Lingard’s effort from outside of the box deflected off Ben Mee and Ashley Westwood, before ending up with Lukaku. The Belgian international fired home from close-range to silenced the assemblage at Turf Moor.

 

It was more of the same after intermission.

The Devils had a golden opportunity to net another in the 68th when Marcus Rashford was brought down inside of the box by Aaron Lennon.

Paul Pogba took the ball, but Hart saved it:

 

Just three minutes after, Rashford was sent off due to a head-butt on Phil Bardsley.

Call this the idiot move of the day:

 

The move's known on the docks as a Liverpool kiss, even though Rashford's was more of a smooch.

This result may keep the heat off Mourinho for a while, but United fans don't show any sign of easing up on club chairman Ed Woodward, who's getting stick from all fronts.

It'll take more than grabbing trois points from a low-ebb Burnley to change that.