Substitute Chris Smalling scored twice as Manchester United battled to a 3-1 victory over Burnley at Old Trafford this evening.

Smalling replaced Phil Jones in the early stages, and he found the net twice with headers either side of an equaliser from Burnley striker Danny Ings.

Burnley were on top for long spells of the match, but they were unable to take anything from the game as Robin van Persie wrapped up the points from the penalty spot late on.

Below, Sports Mole takes a look at the key talking points from the match.

Match statistics

MANCHESTER UNITED
Shots: 11
On target: 7
Possession: 57%
Corners: 5
Fouls: 15

BURNLEY
Shots: 13
On target: 3
Possession: 43%
Corners: 8
Fouls: 8

Was the result fair?

Quite simply, it wasn't a fair result. Burnley did more than enough to earn at least a point, but you're not guaranteed to be rewarded for a fine performance in the Premier League, and the Clarets were made to regret their missed opportunities. On any other night the visitors probably would have walked away from Old Trafford with a positive result. However, when sides are struggling in the relegation zone, they don't get the luck they probably deserve. Questions will be asked about United's performance once again, and even their most loyal supporter will admit that the score was flattering.

Manchester United's performance

Louis van Gaal will not be totally satisfied, but this season is all about qualifying for the Champions League, and picking up wins when the team is not playing well is vital. It's happened on more than one occasion this season, and this performance will be a concern for the Dutchman. Burnley were sharper to every ball for close to 70 minutes, and United seemed to struggle when the visitors pressed further up the pitch.

The partnership of Radamel Falcao and Van Persie struggled again, and both players could see their places come under threat soon after struggling to get involved. Going forward, something was certainly missing, but Smalling rescued his side by exposing Burnley's vulnerabilities from set pieces. There's plenty of work to do for Van Gaal, but he will be glad to see his side pick up another three vital points.

Burnley's performance

Sean Dyche may have been lost for words at the end of the match. Burnley were the better side for the majority of the match, but they finished as the losing side, and that's been happening far too often this season. The Clarets piled the pressure on with some excellent football in the final third of the pitch, and the likes of George Boyd, Michael Kightly and Ings were a constant threat to the home defence. However, their inability to turn pressure into goals cost them. Ings and Ashley Barnes both missed great chances, and United took full advantage to collect all three points.

When Burnley play well, they certainly look good enough to stay in the Premier League, but they continue to struggle with turning good performances into wins. It's a common theme which needs to change very quickly if Dyche is to lead his side to safety.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Kieran Trippier: The 24-year-old full-back may have finished the game on the losing side, but his performance was excellent at both ends of the pitch. He provided the cross for Ings to head home the equaliser, and he threatened the hosts every time he got forward on the right wing. However, he refused to ignore his defensive commitments, and both Angel di Maria and Adnan Januzaj struggled to cope with his persistence.

Biggest gaffe

Ings has been a key player for Burnley all season, and he produced another impressive display tonight, but he missed a big chance at 2-1 which could have changed the game. A lapse of concentration from the United defence allowed Boyd to pick the forward out, but he could only fire straight at David de Gea from close range before failing to convert his second attempt.

Referee performance

Kevin Friend was forced to get the yellow card out of his pocket on seven occasions, but it was a refereeing display which will not steal any headlines tomorrow morning.

What next?

Man Utd: Van Gaal's side meet Preston North End in the FA Cup fifth round on Monday night.

Burnley: The Clarets face another tough away trip when they travel to Stamford Bridge to meet Chelsea on February 21.