Louis van Gaal remains without a win as Manchester United manager as £59.7m British record buy Angel Di Maria failed to inspire their first victory of the season at Burnley.
British record signing Di Maria made his debut for Manchester United in their 0-0 draw ahainst Burnley
Sean Dyche's Premier League newcomers fully deserved their point - and were the better side in spells after seeing David Jones strike the bar with an early free-kick.
United, who agreed a £13.8m deal for Ajax's versatile Netherlands international Daley Blind before kick-off, showed little sign of getting to grips with Van Gaal's methods and new system as they were uninspired in the face of Burnley's organisation and spirit.
Di Maria showed touches of class before going off with cramp 20 minutes before the end but there was a further injury concern for United and Van Gaal as Juan Mata then limped off with a hamstring injury.
The presence of Di Maria only underlined the different financial world these two clubs operate in - with the fee paid to prise the Argentina international from Real Madrid outstripping the £45m spent by Burnley in their 132-year history.
There was little difference between the two sides in these 90 minutes and United now have only two points from what they would have regarded as a favourable opening three games of the season.
Former Manchester United midfielder David Jones has only scored one league goal for Burnley but almost doubled his tally with an early free-kick which hit the bar
Van Gaal remained rooted to his seat in the dug-out, clutching a clipboard for the entire game and there was little urgency on the field either as United struggled for inspiration.
Robin van Persie's shot was cleared off the line by Dean Marney and referee Chris Foy ignored late appeals for a penalty when Ashley Barnes blocked Ashley Young's shot.
Burnley may not have repeated the win Robbie Blake's goal gave them in this fixture in 2009 but this result could prove just as vital in terms of adding self-belief. On this evidence, a first victory will not be long in coming.
For United, with the scale of their ambition, the concerns are greater and time is running out for Van Gaal to add the quality that is clearly desperately required.
The favoured three-man defensive system does not look safe in the hands of Jonny Evans and Phil Jones - youngster Tyler Blackett can be excused - and Van Gaal must hope Marcos Rojo's work permit issues are swiftly resolved.
In Van Gaal's defence, he is currently without summer signings Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera through injury and they would surely have put some sort of gloss on this insipid performance.
Angel Di Maria made no tackles on his Manchester United debut but was heavily involved during his 70 minutes on the pitch
With suggestions that the Blind signing may be United's last before the close of the window, there remain real concerns about the lack of an authoritative midfield presence, with Van Gaal reduced to using Anderson as a substitute when he clearly has no place in his future plans.
United's team has an unbalanced look as Van Gaal attempts to find places for what seems a surfeit of similar players - with little time to address this problem.
Burnley swiftly exposed the deficiencies in the three-man defensive system Van Gaal is attempting to integrate, Jones striking the bar with a free-kick and United keeper David de Gea having to race off his line to block from Lukas Jutkiewicz.
Di Maria showed flashes of the quality that persuaded United to part with such a fee with a neat pass into van Persie that brought a fine block from Burnley's former United reserve keeper Tom Heaton. Otherwise this was once again an undistinguished performance.
Burnley, perhaps understandably, went into retreat as the game moved on but there was never any suggestion they would come under the sort of siege that was United's trademark in previous years.
Their fans were delighted with a point at the final whistle but United's supporters will regard this result as resembling the current condition of their team - namely not good enough.
Burnley defender Michael Duff celebrated the 500th league appearance of his career by helping Burnley keep their first clean sheet in 41 attempts in the Premier League
Midfielder Scott Arfield remains Burnley's only goalscorer so far this season
Louis van Gaal managed Ajax in a friendly at Turf Moor in 1992 and won 1-0 on that occasion
BBC Sport
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