SEAN Dyche admitted Manchester United were just too strong for Burnley at Turf Moor.

The Red Devils came into the game on the back of two straight defeats in which they'd conceded six goals, but they dominated from the first whistle on Sunday afternoon.

Two first half Romelu Lukaku goals sealed victory, and although the Clarets finished strongly after Joe Hart had saved Paul Pogba's penalty and Marcus Rashford had been sent off, they never threatened a comeback.

Asked if it was of United being too good or Burnley below their best, Dyche said: “A bit of both first half, they started very well, I did remind all of you before the game, they’re a good side.

“They’ve had a few question marks, but when good players are tested, from the outside looking in, usually they react, and they did.

“They were very good in the early stages of the game, had us on the back foot very early, and it’s one of those...it’s very good thinking to yourself ‘go and do this and do that’, but it’s difficult when you’re out there.

“They’re a good side, they use the ball well, their movement was good, they look strong defensively."

Burnley had been on the back foot for most of the first half but looked like going in only a goal down until Lukaku's second.

Jesse Lingard's shot hit Charlie Taylor then rebounded off his foot and Ashley Westwood's head to land in Lukaku's path to sweep home.

Dyche said: “We had passages, we had pockets, but the second goal was the real one that hurt us.

“Yes, we could have done better with it, but equally, it hits Chas (Taylor) and lands right in his path.

“Usually you need those things to go to you, particularly against these big sides.

“Overall, a mixture in the first half, second half I thought we had a go, and we gave a better account of ourselves and had moments - although they had breakaway moments.

“They’re a stronger group than us, and they showed that.”

While 18-year-old Dwight McNeil kept his place in the side after an impressive showing in the Europa League on Thursday night, Dyche did spring selection surprises.

Phil Bardsley and Charlie Taylor started at full-back ahead of Matt Lowton and Stephen Ward and Dyche said the workload of players was being managed after an intense start to the season with the Europa League qualifiers.

"We’ve been trying to monitor the workload of the players, equally monitoring the ones who have laid down a little bit of a marker and done well," the Clarets chief said.

"We’re trying to define that group that can compete in two competitions."

One player who missed out was Ben Gibson, who wasn't even off the bench.

Dyche said: “He has had a bit of a tight lower stomach, he’s had a bit of treatment, he’s missed a few days, but that’s it.”