MANCHESTER // Don't let the scoreline fool you - Manchester United may have ruined Brian Laws's first match in charge of Burnley but the late glut of goals masked an otherwise lacklustre display. Laws succeeded Owen Coyle as Burnley manager this week and he can be proud of his new players, if a little perturbed by their profligacy in front of goal. His new side wasted two glorious chances to open the scoring at Old Trafford and were punished by three goals in the second half.
Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney netted in quick succession before Senegalese striker Mame Biram Diouf scored in injury time on his home United debut. "I thought the scoreline may have been a little unfair, but not unjust," said Sir Alex Ferguson afterwards. "We made so many chances, it was ridiculous. To not punish them would have been quite incredible. I am really pleased for Diouf - we're really excited about him."
The full extent of United's precarious financial state was laid bare this week, with accounts showing the club owe in excess of £700million (Dh4.2bn). The unpopular Glazer family remain as unwelcome at Old Trafford as Manchester City's Carlos Tevez but the owners are unfazed by the staunch criticisms of their ownership. It has been a season of uncertai-nty on and off the pitch for United. The spectre of Cristiano Ronaldo still stalks the club while Tevez, once adored at Old Trafford, is enjoying an impressive season at United's bitter rivals City.
Ferguson's men spent four days in Doha this week to escape the freezing weather in England - and the were still in holiday mode against Burnley early on. Their leading scorer Steven Fletcher should have opened the scoring on seven minutes but he screwed his shot wide. David Nugent came close to putting Burnley ahead on 56 minutes but fired his shot wide too. He was made to pay for his miss by Berbatov, whose delicate shot eight minutes later beat Brian Jensen.
Rooney then found space to tuck home a second and substitute Diouf looped a header over Jensen to add gloss to the scoreline in injury time. But with Chelsea seemingly back to their best in their 7-2 mauling of Sunderland, United will have to step up a level to retain their Premier League title. Laws praised his players fight, saying: "The scoreline does not reflect the effort we put in. Our fans were incredible as well. I couldn't have asked for any more."
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