A superbly-taken 54th minute goal from Anthony Martial gave Manchester United a hard-earned 1-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor in the English Premier League on Saturday.
Romelu Lukaku showed strength and skill as he held off two challenges on the right flank before delivering a perfect cross-field pass to Martial.
The French forward’s powerful shot crashed in off the underside of the bar.
Burnley responded well, though, with Johann Gudmundsson hitting the bar with a free kick and the Clarets put Manchester United under plenty of pressure throughout the second half.
Home goalkeeper Nick Pope produced a fine save to deny Martial another goal as second-placed Manchester United tried to close the gap on leaders Manchester City.
Their city rivals later beat Newcastle United 3-1 on Saturday.
It may not have been thrilling, but it was the kind of disciplined performance that Manchester United need to keep delivering.
That is if they are to be in position to take advantage of any slip-ups from Manchester City.
“You never know,” said defender Phil Jones, when asked if Manchester United could make up the gap.
“It is not going to be easy, but you never say never.”
Manchester United played a fluid formation with Lukaku as the lone central striker.
Nemanja Matic was the holding midfielder, with a flexible four of Martial, Paul Pogba, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard.
That produced some attractive passing and movement from Mourinho’s side but not always too much to worry a Burnley defence, marshalled by James Tarkowski and Ben Mee.
Likewise Burnley enjoyed plenty of possession, especially after Martial’s strike, but did not pose enough of a threat in attack.
When Gudmundsson did slip the ball across the face of goal, Tarkowski was unable to connect.
“It was very hard, we played against a brave team, a team that plays with their strength and a team that knows how to get points.
“That’s why season after season they are in a comfortable position. We were not brilliant, but we were very good,” said Mourinho.
“I prefer to win 4-0 and to sit on the bench and enjoy the game, but it is good to see the way the team fought for it,” he added.
Burnley manager Sean Dyche, whose team have now gone seven league games without a win and dropped to eighth in the table, was upbeat about his team’s performance.
“That’s a very good performance and I‘m very pleased with the players,” he said.
“The challenge of the Premier League, that’s why the top six are the top six, is often they can just about hang in there and find a moment of quality, and they do it enough.”
