BURNLEY were undone by two goals in five second-half minutes, before Mame Diouf wrapped up the win in stoppage time, but there were still plenty of positives for Brian Laws to take out of his first game in charge.

The Clarets kept out the reigning champions for 64 minutes, and could have twice taken the lead in that time.

Steven Fletcher dragged a great chance wide of Edwin van der Sar's left post after getting on the end of David Nugent's excellent diagonal ball with just six minutes on the clock.

Brian Jensen was called upon to make a fingertip save from Nani's overhead kick as United went into the break strongly.

But Burnley had another golden opportunity to break the deadlock on the hour when the lively Chris Eagles, against his former club, sent Nugent sprinting clear of Gary Neville.

The on-loan Portsmouth striker looked certain to score in what is the last game of his current deal, which Laws hopes to extend. But the 24-year-old couldn't hit the target.

Dimitar Berbatov put United in front four minutes later, when his shot took a wicked deflection off the underside of Michael Duff's outstretched leg, deceiving Jensen.

Wayne Rooney tucked in the second on 69 minutes, after Jensen had parried Berbatov's initial shot.

The Clarets battled to get back into the game, and Steven Thompson, who had replaced the injured Fletcher in the first half, was unlucky to head against a post.

Substitute Mame Diouf added a third for the Reds in the first minute of stoppage time with a fortuitous looping header over the advancing Jensen.

But Burnley continued their search for a deserved goal and should have had a penalty after Tyrone Mears' curling free kick was well saved by van der Sar and Neville handled Wade Elliott's follow-up.