THE international break may be coming at a good time for Burnley after the Clarets hopes of igniting their season fell flat against Manchester United.

As Sean Dyche had said in midweek there may never be a good time to play United, but they arrived at Turf Moor a side apparently in crisis.

Two successive defeats in which they had conceded six goals had them marked down as vulnerable visitors and a plane which flew over Turf Moor highlighting the fans displeasure with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward showed that not everything was as rosey as United’s light pink third strip, worn for the first time at Turf Moor.

But Burnley aren’t without their own problems, chiefly a defensively profligacy which has crept into their game since last season. The Clarets have gone from being organised and difficult to break down to suddenly handing opponents a helping hand and they have now conceded nine goals in their last three league games. That is a problem that will need working on over the next two weeks.

Romelu Lukaku’s opener for United was certainly far too easy for the Red Devils, and while his second just before the break owed a huge amount to luck, the visitors enjoyed the sort of comfortable afternoon that isn’t usually granted to opposing sides here.

United certainly didn’t start like a team feeling the pressure.

Jesse Lingard curled an early effort just wide before Joe Hart was down to save Luke Shaw’s 20-yard drive, while the former Manchester City goalkeeper clawed away a flick from Lingard.

Burnley were struggling to impose themselves on the game but just as United’s bright start was beginning to fade from memory the Red Devils struck. After patient build-up play the ball was moved left to Alexis Sanchez, who curled in a cross for Lukaku to head home from six yards.

Again it was a goal the Clarets will feel was avoidable. Lukaku pulled off the back of Ben Mee to find space, while Hart may also feel he could have come for the cross and tried to clear, instead finding himself stranded too close to Lukaku to make a save.

Now United had their rhythm back. Hart was down low to save Shaw’s angled effort before making a superb stop to deny Lukaku a second.

The Belgian began the counter as he carried the ball over halfway before swapping passes with Sanchez, but Hart was out quickly to block the Belgian’s dinked finish.

Just as it looked like Burnley would cling on for the break they went two down. Sanchez found the driving inside run of Shaw, who pulled it back for Lukaku. He teed up Lingard and although his 18-yard shot was blocked by Charlie Taylor, the ball hit the left-back’s heel, cannoned off Ashley Westwood’s head and fell for Lukaku to sweep home from eight yards.

Just as the game appeared to be drifting, it was briefly brought back to live by a chaotic five minutes. A penalty was awarded when Aaron Lennon pushed Marcus Rashford in the box, but Hart dived right to save Paul Pogba’s spot-kick, defying those United fans behind the goal who were taunting him with chants of ‘City reject’.

Moments later Rashford saw red after thrusting his head into Phil Bardsley, who had tripped him off the pitch as the United man tried to break past the former Red Devil.

That bought Turf Moor to life, but Hart had to keep the Clarets in the game again with another fine save to deny Lukaku as he broke clear.

At the other end substitute Sam Vokes headed Dwight McNeil’s free-kick over, before he met Ashley Barnes’ cross but could only guide the header at David De Gea.

United continued to threaten on the break and after Lukaku had rounded Hart Mee denied him a hat-trick with a stunning cover tackle.

Any chance of a late Clarets comeback ended when De Gea again saved from Vokes, before Matej Vydra glanced the return cross from Ashley Westwood just wide.