With United owners Avi and Joel Glazer making one of their infrequent
appearances at Old Trafford, struggling Burnley briefly threatened to
spoil the party when Danny Ings equalised the first of Smalling's
headed efforts.
But Smalling netted again before Robin van Persie's late penalty kept
United on course for a place in next season's Champions League.
Smalling made the most extraordinary impact on the game, a mere
22 seconds after coming onto the field as a fifth minute replacement
for Phil Jones, who had injured himself making an early interception.
United manager Louis van Gaal threw on the substitute after Patrick
McNair had won a corner with a 22-yard shot that goalkeeper Tom
Heaton parried at the expense of a corner.
From Wayne Rooney's resulting set-piece, van Persie flicked on at
the near post, Radamel Falcao headed back into the six-yard area
from the far and Smalling made it three United headers in quick
succession as he nodded home from close range for only his second
goal of the season.
But United held that lead for just six minutes before Ings equalised.
George Boyd played full-back Kieran Trippier away down the right
and his superb cross into the six-yard area found Ings, who had lost
his marker Smalling, and his magnificent diving header gave David de
Gea no chance.
In fact, Burnley had already wasted two promising openings by this
point.
First, Michael Keane headed off-target from a Trippier corner, then
Michael Kightly found himself clean through on goal but shot directly
at de Gea.
After equalising, Burnley attacked with enthusiasm and belief. Within
the space of 60 seconds, Ings had a shot blocked from a dangerous
position and Ashley Barnes was just wide from 18 yards.
Burnley manager Sean Dyche had made his first change to his
starting line-up in 11 games with his selection of Kightly for the
injured Dean Marney and the winger was cautioned on 25 minutes
when he ended a United counter attack by bringing down Angel di
Maria.
Ings, who looks increasingly likely to leave Burnley when his contract
expires at the end of the season, continued his impressive outing with
a near-post header just off the mark, but United's injury problems
continued well before the interval when Daley Blind was forced off to
be replaced by Ander Herrera.
Kightly's pass to Ashley Barnes presented the Burnley forward with a
shot which he placed wide from eight yards as United continued to
look highly susceptible in defence.
It was against the run of play that United went into the break back in
front following a well-worked corner and exchange of passes
between Rooney and di Maria.
The Argentinian was allowed space and time to cross for Smalling
who rose well to head in emphatically from six yards.
If United hoped the timing of that goal, two minutes into stoppage
time, would quell Burnley's fire, they were mistaken and within two
minutes of the restart should have conceded.
Boyd's right-wing cross should have been cleared by Smalling or
Jonny Evans, but both miskicked in embarrassing fashion, allowing
the surprised Ings a shot from six yards which was well saved by de
Gea.
Adnan Januzaj made a strong run and shot which Heaton was
required to save at full stretch although it was a half that produced
far fewer chances than the first.
Moments after a poor miss by Kightly, however, an errant pass by
Scott Arfield allowed di Maria to break clear and into the area where
the same Burnley man fouled him.
Van Persie's resulting 82nd minute penalty finally killed off hopes of
a late Burnley rally.
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