Gary Neville says Fletcher will be disappointed with Man Utd star after Burnley goal

Gary Neville pointed the finger at Casemiro after Burnley’s opener in a 2-2 draw with Manchester United, claiming Darren Fletcher will likely be disappointed with the midfielder’s defending for the own goal.

United had the lion’s share of possession in the opening stages of this evening’s Premier League contest, taking place just two days on from Ruben Amorim’s dismissal as manager.

But despite some bright early passages of play from the visitors, it was the hosts that drew first blood to get Fletcher’s interim reign off to a nightmare start after only 13 minutes at a lively Turf Moor.

Ex-United midfielder Hannibal Mejbri started the move for Burnley, feeding a pinpoint through ball between Diogo Dalot and a lumbering Casemiro to find Bashir Humphreys on the left flank.

Without taking a touch, Humphreys took one glance towards the penalty area before firing over a cross, which deflected off Ayden Heaven and looped over a hapless Senne Lammens to open the scoring.

United’s caretaker manager, Fletcher, cut a frustrated figure in the immediate aftermath, shaking his head in astonishment as he digested his side’s early setback from the touchline.

The points were ultimately shared after a rollercoaster second half, in which Benjamin Sesko struck twice before Jaidon Anthony salvaged a point for the home team with an exquisite 66th-minute effort.

But Fletcher’s former team-mate Neville could not hide his frustration as he watched back Burnley’s opening goal, highlighting Casemiro’s lackadaisical defending while on co-commentary duty for Sky Sports.

‘There’s an inquisition going on back there but Burnley have some bright play,’ Neville said.

‘He shakes his head, Darren Fletcher, he can’t believe what he’s seen down that side.

‘I think when he looks at it a little bit closer at half-time, or on his monitor, he will see Casemiro with Bashir Humphreys… it’s just really clear, the Brazilian goes up to Humphries and then for some reason he just lets him run off.’

The ex-United and England right-back added: ‘Maybe Ayden Heaven could have come across.

‘But it’s late for Heaven to have to react when Casemiro lets him run like that and then there’s a little bit of good fortune for Burnley.

‘Heaven goes to block the cross and Lammens is there to try and sort of cut it out, but it loops wickedly into that far corner.

‘There’s been some bright play over on that far side from Burnley. They’ve not really created too much but Humphries running off the back of Casemiro, he’s just opened up Manchester United.’

It was more of the same in the Sky Sports studio at the half-time break, with both Jamie Redknapp and Tim Sherwood taking aim at Casemiro for his part in the own goal.

‘We’ve spoken so much about the system and I just think this shows you, it’s not about the system, it’s a about the players, a lot of it,’ Redknapp said when watching back replays of Burnley’s early opener.

‘There’s no intensity in the midfield players and you can see Dalot here, he knows he’s got a problem, he’s got three players against him, he puts his arms up, he needs a bit of help.

‘Casemiro goes ambling out but he doesn’t do enough.

‘Bashir Humphries plays the ball and then just runs in behind him. Look how simple that is!

‘Ayden Heaven comes out with his hands behind his back, I’m not sure why he’s doing that, goes with the wrong leg and it deflects over him which is a little bit unfortunate.’

Ex-Tottenham and Aston Villa manager Sherwood slammed Casemiro’s ‘demeanour’ in the build-up, telling the five-time Champions League winner to set a better example for his team-mates.

‘Casemiro has to lead by example. He’s the reference out there, he should be the man, he’s won all the trophies,’ Sherwood said.

‘He should be the one leading everyone but his demeanour, to me, is so poor.

‘If I’m Kobbie Mainoo sitting on the bench there, I’m saying to Fletcher, “Get me on this pitch because that kid ain’t even running!”‘

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