Speculation about Fergie's job ran throughout the season and I bet finishing the season 5 pts above relegation at 13th place in the league didn't make him feel safe. Then trailing 3-2 in extra-time to Ian Wright's second goal he must've thought he'd dodged the bullet for the last time. Trust Mark Hughes to score the equaliser and force the replay.
It's such a shame Crystal Palace couldn't convert any of their chances in the replay. I was in a bar at university watching both games hoping, along with most of the other drinkers, that Palace would beat the Scum, and Fergie would lose his job (he was a total
back then too). But no luck.
Looking back the amazing thing about that final is the make up of the two teams.
- Palace had 11 English starters and 2 English subs.
- Man U had 8 English, 2 Scots and 1 Welsh, plus a bench of Robins (Eng) & Blackmore (Welsh).
The only change in the replay, Man U's goalie Leighton (Scottish) dropped for Sealey (English).
Only 3 non-English players involved. Can't believe it was only 20 years ago.