The last Premier League match of the year and Red Devils can only hope it forecast for better times in 2022.
Victory over Burnley at Old Trafford augmented them into sixth place in the table after a stormy few weeks.
On Thursday night, it was an 80th birthday greeting that hovered across the Stretford End before kick-off, and Sir Alex Ferguson will have cherished that from his seat in the directors’ box just as much as a more positive.
It was much required after improbable performances versus Newcastle and Norwich. Burnley settle the other spot in the relegation zone and are now winless in six games, so nobody at Manchester United should get too carried away.
But at least interim boss Ralf Rangnick remains undefeated and Red Devils finish a cumbersome year on a high.
