London, Jan 8 (IANS) Benjamin Sesko’s second-half double was only enough for a 2-2 draw at struggling Burnley in Darren Fletcher’s first game as Manchester United’s interim head coach.

Fletcher stepped in after Ruben Amorim was dismissed on Monday, and the former Man Utd midfielder may have been fearing the worst when Ayden Heaven’s early own goal handed Burnley the lead at Turf Moor.

But after United defender Lisandro Martinez saw what would have been a first-half equaliser ruled out, Sesko produced two fine finishes within 10 minutes of each other to put United in front.

That joy was short-lived, however, as Jaidon Anthony picked out the top-left corner after 66 minutes, with the Red Devils missing another chance to make ground on fourth-placed Liverpool before Arne Slot’s side face Arsenal on Thursday.

The draw leaves Man Utd sixth in the table, two points off Liverpool, while Burnley – whose winless run extended to 12 matches – remain 19th and eight points adrift of 17th-placed Nottingham Forest.

On the other hand, Aston Villa played out a goalless draw with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

A cagey first half saw Emi Martínez make a fine save from Brennan Johnson and Ollie Watkins denied by Dean Henderson at the other end.

The second half provided more openings as both sides pushed for three points, with Villa coming closest to finding a winner when Watkins headed Matty Cash’s cross onto a post in the 84th minute.

A point in South London keeps Unai Emery’s side third in the top flight as attention turns to the FA Cup and a trip to Tottenham Hotspur this weekend.

Elsewhere, Everton were held to a 1-1 draw by Wolves in a contest where the Blues controversially ended with nine men at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Michael Keane netted the opener on 17 minutes, expertly diverting home from close-range after the visitors failed to clear a free-kick. Mateus Mane levelled proceedings with a confident finish midway through the second half.

Everton were reduced to 10 men with eight minutes remaining when, after a lengthy VAR review, Keane was adjudged to have committed “an act of violent conduct” after touching the hair of Tolu Arokodare as the pair competed in an aerial duel.

Those frustrations were compounded when Jack Grealish was dismissed minutes later for a second bookable offence.

–IANS

bc/