Andy Gray scored a second-half equaliser to deny Steve Cotterill a first day win as Burnley boss.
Gray's header made up for his mistake in the lead up to Burnley's goal in the 16th minute from Micah Hyde.
Gray's attempted clearance hit Hyde on the back to cannon beyond Paddy Kenny.
Burnley, with five new faces in the starting 11, could hardly have had a better start, but they never threatened to build on that advantage.
The bigger surprise was that it took United until seven minutes after half time, to find an equaliser, Gray popping up in the right place and the right time. after a long throw from Leigh Bromby had caused panic in the home defence.
Burnley were under constant pressure throughout the second half and only a succession of bad misses from the visitors and outstanding goalkeeping from Danny Coyne prevented them losing by an embarrassing margin.
Coyne made a tremendous stop to deny Andy Liddell while Chris Morgan shot wide when he really should have scored.
But the most glaring miss of them all came two minutes into injury time when substitute Ashley Ward hit the ball against the cross bar from just three yards.
United looked likely to be a team very much in the promotion picture but on this evidence it could be a long hard season for Burnley unless the new manager can get his new-look squad gelling very quickly.
There was an encouraging debut from Coyne, but when the goalkeeper takes the man of the match award at home it is hardly a good sign.