We want more Turf Moor days like today

Last updated : 30 August 2014 By Tony Scholes

This was what we'd been waiting for. We'd watched on as a brilliant Chelsea recovered from Scott Arfield's opener in the first game, then saw us fight back well at Swansea last week without the good fortune we deserved.

But today we got our first point and no one surely, other than the less than gracious Louis van Gaal could deny that it was fully deserved, and against the club that have more Premier League titles to their name than any other.

Forget they are not quite the force they were, just take a look at their team sheet and all the attacking talent, the expensive attacking talent, they had on view. There was the petulant Wayne Rooney, and he was alongside Robin van Persie, Juan Mata and latest recruit Angel Di Maria who had flown in from Madrid only this week.

A brilliant performance from David Jones against his former club

We turned up to one newspaper's revelation that Di Maria had cost considerably more than we'd spent in the transfer market since the club was formed in 1882.

I suppose I was a little bit nervous ahead of the game. I don't think Tuesday's disappointing Capital One Cup results and performances had helped. On one hand I was disappointed with our defeat but then believed that United's 4-0 exit might just fire them up as a big club well and truly wounded.

On my way to the ground I met some of our local celebrities. I'm being a nuisance right now getting photographs for the upcoming new feature on Clarets Mad and wanted some to start it off. I snapped Jeff Brown twice; I paid for the first one but got the second one free.

Then it was Andy Lochhead; he once scored four in a home game against United but now, alas, he's looking after the corporate guests rather than sticking the ball in the net. Finally the Kilby family - Thomas, Sonya and Sean Dyche impressionist Barry with his ginger goatee.

I spent the next hour or so sorting out tickets and chatting to friends (they may say different) and apparently made my very first appearance on BT Sport whilst dallying outside the Park View. Thankfully I don't have BT Sport so that's one bit of footage I won't have to see.

I was perhaps too confident ahead of the Chelsea game. To be honest I didn't think they'd be as good as they were, but this time I was less so against a team that is supposedly going to finish in the top four this season.

They have injuries, but the big names were there. Our team was just as it had been for the first two games with Kevin Long replacing Michael Kightly, presumably injured, on the bench.

What a start we made. van Gaal had started with his back three but I think he might have needed a back six to curb us during our opening spell, and how unlucky we were not to go in front.

David Jones, playing against his former club, hit a free kick onto the bar with David de Gea nowhere near and then we nearly benefited from a sloppy back pass that the Spanish goalkeeper did well to rectify when he blocked a Lukas Jutkiewicz effort.

United's first opportunity came when Di Maria found van Persie with a through ball, I think he was playing by ear. The Dutchman looked a certain scorer for the only time in the game but our other former United player, goalkeeper Tom Heaton, made an outstanding save.

United did look to snatch control of the game but this was Burnley playing like we know they can. This was the Burnley team that was simply outstanding at times last season in closing teams down, in working so damned hard, in pressing and making it difficult for the opposition.

And if the ball did come into the box then Michael Duff, making his 300th league appearance for the club, and captain Jason Shackell had the answer to all of it.

By the end of the half we'd assumed control again. Jones, the brilliant Jones, forced a stunning save from de Gea from a volley, and Scott Arfield, a player who right now looks as though he's been playing Premier League football all his life, almost got us the lead only for his goal bound shot to be blocked.

There were no goals in the first half and the Clarets received a superb ovation as they headed to the tunnel at half time whilst we were treated to a Turf Moor appearance from our former little magician Robbie Blake.

Blake was making the half time draw. He'd been chosen because of scoring the winner against United last time they were here, and before he made the draw a selection of his goals was shown on the big screen, every one of them greeted with a roar from the crowd.

We used to have Robbie Blake. Twice were able to sing about it and no wonder we did when we watched the quality of those goals again. It was a treat. My favourite against Wolves in 2004/05 was there, when he slalomed into the box at the cricket field end before sliding the ball home.

But there were his two stunning Premier League goals, the Preston and Spurs free kicks and a few others to delight in. All of the distaste at the way he left, or more where he went, was forgotten as fans and Robbie himself enjoyed each and every one of them.

Apparently Alan Shearer thinks we can only play for one half, so for the benefit of the failed Newcastle manager we went out and played again.

We gave them a hell of a scare in the second half as we took the game to them. I thought Danny Ings, who has had a quietish start to the season, started to pull a few string as we upped our game even further.

Matt Taylor saw a free kick hit the roof of the net and he also hit a shot straight at the goalkeeper and it was only in the closing stages when our defence was given any real work to do. Di Maria flew off and van Persie followed not much later and they started to push at us.

They did put us under pressure to some extent but there was no quality to their play and Antonio Valencia, in particular, didn't look capable of getting a decent ball into the box.

They went up for a penalty, as they often do, then reacted badly when the outstanding Chris Foy said now and it was Burnley who actually came closest right at the end with a header from a corner which was on its way in until it was cleared.

A draw it was in the end. It was our first clean sheet in the Premier League since we beat Hull 2-0 in October 2009 and it was a result that leaves only Barnsley of all the clubs to have played in the Premier League never to have featured in a goalless draw.

There's been so much disappointment recently with what appear to have been failed attempts to sign players but that was all forgotten today as Turf Moor, at its brilliant best, rose to applaud this great team performance.

Manchester United are not going to be champions this year, but we've still got a point from a big club who will, undoubtedly improve as the season goes on.

One thread on the message board, started by poster ecc, was simply headed Proud. He said he was proud of our club, our players and our manager.

Some of these players are having to get used to playing in this league. There was enough evidence today to suggest they are getting there.

Just a year ago we were beating Derby 3-0 at Pride Park. We played so, so well that day, but if anyone had told me that a year later we'd draw 0-0 against Man United and be the better side I'd have never, ever believed it.

That's where we are now. Let's embrace it and enjoy it all no matter what happens. The one thing we can all agree on is that we want more Turf Moor days like today.

The teams were;

Burnley: Tom Heaton, Kieran Trippier, Michael Duff, Jason Shackell, Ben Mee, Scott Arfield, Dean Marney, David Jones, Matt Taylor (Steven Reid 88), Danny Ings (Ashley Barnes 78), Lukas Jutkiewicz. Subs not used: Matt Gilks, Kevin Long, Stephen Ward, Ross Wallace, Marvin Sordell.
Yellow Cards: Dean Marney, Steven Reid.

Manchester United: David de Gea, Jonny Evans, Phil Jones, Tyler Blackett, Antonio Valencia, Juan Mata (Adnan Januzaj 87), Darren Fletcher, Angel Di Maria (Anderson 70), Ashley Young, Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie (Danny Welbeck 73). Subs not used: Ben Amos, Michael Keane, Reece James, Javier Hernandez.
Yellow Cards: Darren Fletcher, Tyler Blackett.

Referee: Chris Foy (St. Helens).

Attendance: 21,099.