FA Cup Rewind: 1990 FA Cup Final The FA Cup

Hello and welcome to Wembley Stadium for FA Cup Rewind.

And for this dip into the BBC's sport archives,

we're going back to 1990.

Number two.

Manchester United...

And number one.

..will play...Crystal Palace.

-And that concludes the draw for the FA Cup Final.

-LAUGHTER

For over 140 years the English game's end-of-season showpiece

has been an iconic occasion,

and been a career-defining stage for many of the game's stars.

The romance of the competition has forged unlikely heroes,

rewarded lifelong endeavour and, on occasion,

acted as a catalyst for even greater feats to come.

In 1990, Manchester United was a club in need of exactly that.

Despite two FA Cup successes in the preceding decade, the Holy Grail

that was the League title had eluded them

for almost a quarter of a century.

The latest man charged with leading their crusade

was Scot Alex Ferguson,

who'd replaced double-Cup winner Ron Atkinson in November 1986.

The early signs were encouraging.

United runners-up to a near invincible Liverpool

in Ferguson's first full season in charge.

But that was looking increasingly like a false dawn.

By the turn of the new decade, United were languishing in 15th,

and the manager's position was hanging by a fine thread.

Rumour whispered that Alex Ferguson wouldn't survive

if Manchester United, with only four points from their last eight games,

were knocked out at Nottingham Forest.

But rumour was never put to the test.

Kept in by Martin.

Hughes, he's got a lot of room.

And here's Robins.

The saviour was Mark Robins -

a 20-year-old whose scoring record in the Reserves had earned him

the chance to try where others had failed.

At Edgar Street, Hereford United put the beef on show.

The question was, would Manchester United prove to be the beef-eater?

Hughes.

A lovely turn by the Welsh international.

Oh, it's Duxbury, the captain.

Is he going to do the captain's job?

He is. Clayton Blackmore.

And, in the end, it looked easy.

But what an important contribution by Mike Duxbury.

At St James's Park, they and Newcastle kept their managers,

not to mention the spectators, on their feet.

And they all miss it, except Robins.

It's in.

Robins has done it again.

Wallace. Yes!

Oh, what a finish.

What a finish.

And he's down, and the ball is in.

Ince.

Looking for Wallace...

and may have found him.

Little touch, McClair.

Signposts to Wembley were getting fewer.

For Manchester United to go all the way

would mean setting a strange record -

drawn away in every round, each game played on a Sunday.

Wallace.

Good back header. Hughes.

McClair.

Holden again. He's trying to change the angle.

Oh, an awkward one. And Barrett!

Barrett the scorer.

What a mess for Manchester United.

What a delight for Oldham Athletic.

Hughes.

Barrett.

Bruce.

And Robson.

It's 1-1!

Phelan.

Slightly stubbed it,

but it comes to Gibson.

And...it's Webb.

Irwin.

Redfern, got away.

It's a good cross.

Marshall!

What an unbelievable day this is.

Nicked away by McClair.

Useful ball, this.

Test of his pace, now test of his finish.

And he's equal to both!

Milligan.

Yes, there's space here for Marshall.

And Palmer's far-side.

It's all square again!

Still Robson. Wallace.

Robson just inside. "Give it me back."

He's screaming to be given it back. Wallace.

Oh, it's going to go in!

Yes, McClair!

The free kick is taken. Irwin.

It suddenly opened up in front of him.

Irwin again.

Milligan.

Holden.

Appeal for handball, not given.

Holden's cross. It's a bit short.

It runs to Ritchie.

Andy Ritchie!

Sudden increase in impetus again.

Phelan.

Robins.

Yes!

Mark Robins' winner against his hometown club

in the semifinal replay.

The 20-year-old striker's latest act of FA Cup salvation

that he'd provided for his manager.

Well, the 1989-'90 season was Crystal Palace's

first in the top flight for several years,

having achieved promotion via the play-offs.

And, predictably, survival would be their main aim.

This soon appeared to be a tall order when they were on the end

of a 9-0 thrashing at Anfield in September.

But whilst the League proved to be a struggle,

the FA Cup offered blessed relief, as the Eagles made capital from

being drawn against a succession of lower League opposition.

A hard-fought win at giant killers Cambridge in the Sixth Round

put them into only their second ever FA Cup semifinal.

Thomas. It's gone in!

Their opponents - Liverpool.

The Cup-holders, who'd humiliated Palace in the autumn,

were pursuing a second League and Cup double in four years

when they ran out at Villa Park on a sunny Sunday afternoon in April.

Here's McMahon.

Pardew.

And McMahon intercepting.

Rush going to the left now. Onside.

Ian Rush.

Liverpool take the lead.

And Ian Rush, the ace goal-scorer,

once again makes it look so easy.

Well, let's see what Palace can do about it now in the second half,

as they attack the Holte End here at Villa Park. John Pemberton.

A lovely run early on. And a chance for Barber. And Venison.

And it's a shot.

And it's there by Bright!

It's Mark Bright, straight from the kick-off!

And now they've waved Andy Thorn up, as well.

Andy Gray has placed the ball.

That's his cross. And Bright's there,

O'Reilly's there!

And Palace...are they in front?

Yes, they are.

Staunton to Venison.

Right across the goal.

McMahon. Oh, it's there!

It's 2-2!

Steve McMahon.

Beardsley. Oh, look at this.

Staunton.

Penalty!

Pemberton on Staunton.

George Courtney has pointed to the spot,

and Pemberton is distraught.

Barnes scores.

The goalkeeper went the right way,

but the kick was in the corner,

and Liverpool lead by three goals to two.

Thomas.

And Bright's in there.

And Thomas. Staunton.

Gray! Gray! 3-3!

Andy Gray for Palace. They're back in it.

Thorn flicked it on.

And it's gone in!

Pardew.

4-3 Palace.

Palace's semifinal victory remains one of the greatest upsets

in the competition's history.

And they followed it up by securing their First Division status in May.

The man behind the Eagles' ascent

was a former Manchester United winger,

who'd lifted the cup for the Old Trafford club back in 1977.

John Motson profiled the man who was about to make history

as the FA Cup Final's youngest-ever manager.

To see him scampering about in practice, you have to remind

yourself that this time he's going as a manager, not as a player.

Still just short of his 21st birthday,

Steve was a member of the Manchester United team that reached

the 1976 FA Cup Final,

but there was to be no fairytale ending to his first

big match at Wembley.

McCalliog, to Stokes, who's onside!

1-0!

At the time, I didn't feel that disappointed

because I always say that I came away from the final with a medal,

and 12 months before, I'd been sitting in my front room,

like millions of people, watching it and never dreaming I'd have the

opportunity to play in an FA Cup Final.

It was only about two months later that I realised

that that could have been my one and only FA Cup Final chance.

But a year later, Steve and United had the Cup Final suits on again.

This time, their opponents were his boyhood team, Liverpool.

Won by Macari.

Smith slips slightly, delivering!

The biggest thing which had driven me on

in the final was I'd shown my medals,

which I'd received 12 months previously

from the Southampton game, to so many people.

It had been hammered into my mind, looking at this medal,

"Runners-up, runners up, runners up, runners up."

And then, to actually get a medal, I flipped it over and looked at it

and it said "Winners". That was a brilliant feeling.

Pride of place in the collection.

Two years later, you were back at Wembley in another Cup Final,

weren't you? This is '79 now.

Certainly, as a player, I've never gone from such a high

of emotion to the depths of despair so quickly in all my life.

McIlroy's through!

And McIlroy...has got it!

What drama here!

McIlroy for United. It's 2-2.

They kicked off and the next time we touched the ball

was when we were kicking off 3-2 down.

Right across. Sunderland is there!

In November 1981, at Wembley,

when England beat Hungary to qualify for the World Cup Finals,

a brutal tackle by left back Jozsef Toth shattered Steve's left knee.

He tackled me and I just had this horrible feeling.

I felt as if my knee had exploded, someone had put a firework

in the centre of my knee and it had gone off.

But even though he could do hardly any training,

he still enjoyed some memorable moments the following season.

And can Coppell drive one?

What a goal!

What a goal by Steve Coppell!

But when United went to Wembley to play Brighton in 1983,

Coppell was a non-playing member of the party.

The knee had broken down again. He'd played his last League game.

In the autumn, came the final verdict from the specialist.

He just came in and broke the news to me

as well as such a thing can be said.

He said, "If you want to be walking round come 35,

"you've got to pack it in now."

In June 1984, at the tender age of 28,

Steve Coppell became manager of Crystal Palace.

The so-called "Team Of The '80s" had broken up,

and there was no money in the bank.

Everything was done on a shoestring, the first year, to be quite honest.

We were delighted that Carlisle got relegated

because we'd exhausted our welcome at the couple of hotels that we

used to use in Carlisle, we were so late in paying bills and that.

We were banned from hotels.

We lived very much from hand-to-mouth.

Palace, under Coppell, have made steady progress over six seasons.

In many ways, I am lucky that our humble origins

mean we are as united a team I played in.

We do have naivety on our side.

In this year of the underdog, is Palace's name on the cup?

Coppell sees it as a precious day for both managers.

I was speaking to Alex Ferguson the other day

and he was talking about it,

and he was saying, "Well, you work all your life to lead a team

"out in Wembley," and there's a man who's won European cups

and done everything with Aberdeen,

and he's spent a career in football and he has got a great delight,

it's the biggest thing in his life, to lead a team out at Wembley.

And when people encapsulate it like that, you then actually think,

"Yeah, it is. This is something really different."

The importance of the occasion, not lost on the rookie manager.

But what about his opposite number?

Well, Tony Gubba went to the Manchester United team hotel

to get the inside track.

Manchester United are using the same hotel headquarters

and training facilities as that chosen by the England

international squad in Buckinghamshire.

After the pressures of a season where they flirted with relegation,

the build-up to tomorrow's Cup Final is exaggeratedly relaxed.

It's the most important event of my life, really,

because it's such a great club, United.

It deserves the kind of success that the likes of tomorrow can bring.

The supporters are down there and it has been a disappointing season.

And people in Scotland may find it strange...

-Cos you won so much with Aberdeen, didn't you?

-Correct.

And it's not an insult, it's just that these are memories now.

Lovely memories but tomorrow is the biggest event of my life.

Alex Ferguson has the luxury of being able to select whatever

he considers his strongest Manchester United team.

All his £13.5 millions' worth of stars are available

and from a named squad of 12,

it seems likely that young goal poacher Mark Robins will be

the one given the substitute shirt. Whatever, Alex Ferguson is

trying to keep his cards close to his chest.

He's played his part. He's played a marvellous part.

You couldn't go beyond that. You must look at Mark Robins.

Um...

And other players of the 13 would maybe come from Mal Donaghy,

Clayton Blackmore, someone who can play positions,

would give me cover and that's just common sense, really.

So, United's young striker was set for a place on the bench.

But who would start up front for Crystal Palace was still to

be answered.

David Davies went looking for clues at the Eagles' Cup Final nest.

The message from the Crystal Palace hotel some 40 minutes from

Wembley is, "We're as ready as we can be."

Still no official announcement on the Crystal Palace team.

The big question mark, of course,

over what role Ian Wright will play, if any, in this Cup Final.

Wright, who has twice broken a leg in the past year

but who has made a quite amazing recovery.

My information is that Palace will take no chances with their team,

certainly from the start.

Wright was up early this morning along with fullback

Richard Shaw and John Salako who may well begin the game.

Wright remains highly optimistic though about the big occasion.

It's a great day. It's a very special occasion.

And I don't think you should let all the razzmatazz

what precedes it inhibit you.

I think you just got to go enjoy the day and the game.

-And you feel ready?

-Yeah, definitely.

I was born for this day, I was ready for this day.

Steve, when we talked last night you said you had one problem to

sleep on, have you resolved it?

I've made a decision, whether I've resolved it, only 3.00 will tell.

But I've made my mind up of what I'm going to do with the team.

And I'll just keep my fingers crossed it's the right decision.

Exactly what the right decision was remained to be seen.

What had been revealed though were the sides'

respective Cup Final songs.

What was an annual tradition for Wembley-bound teams had two

new entries into the musical hall of shame.

# We will stand together

# United

# Against the foe

# Never be divided

# Never alone

# Courage

# Is the fire

# Spirit

# Is the flame

# We are

# the United

# Proud, proud our name. #

# Our love will last now Our love will last

# Till the end of time End of time

# Because this love now Because this love

# Is only yours and mine Yours and mine

# And I'm feelin' glad all over

# Yes, I'm-a glad all over

# Baby, I'm glad all over

# So glad you're mine

# So glad you're mine now

# Say that you're mine now

# Oh, oh, oh... #

The original Dave Clark Five classic,

a tune synonymous with Selhurst Park.

That version, maybe less so.

But would Palace be "glad all over" come full-time?

For most of their team, it was a first-ever visit to Wembley's

twin towers and they and their Manchester United counterparts

took the chance to soak it all up pre-match.

Gary O'Reilly of Crystal Palace,

how does the atmosphere compare to what you expected.

It's great.

There seems to be a lot of Crystal Palace support in here

and for only 14,000 people I think they've done brilliantly.

Especially down on the approach to the stadium, as well.

And another goal like yours in the semifinal that would do you

-nicely today?

-It would indeed. It would.

Neil Webb, it's been quite a turnaround for you.

Injury and look as though you were out of the game for a long time

and here you are, Wembley final.

It's been a long, hard struggle to get my fitness back

and I believe I've done that I've got the biggest

stage in the British game to prove it.

It was something that kept us going through a disastrous League...

League season this year

and it would be nice if we could finish the season how we started it.

John Pemberton of Crystal Palace, mixed emotions for you.

-You were a United supporter not so long ago.

-That's right.

If I wouldn't have been playing here today

I would have been up there with them lads.

It's a fantastic day for everybody in it.

And for a player who spent some years in the lower divisions

-it's an even bigger day, surely?

-Of course it is.

I've pottered around the Fourth Division like a lot of lower players

have done.

We had chances to play in the First Division and we've all took that

and this is a highlight of the whole season we've had.

Geoff Thomas, the captain, that's something you share with John,

experience in the lower divisions.

Yes, to say two years ago ask me and John where we'd like to be,

obviously we'd say Wembley.

To turn out here for Crystal Palace today is something

special for everybody.

Mark Robins, the decision for Alex Ferguson is that you take

the substitutes shirt. Are you disappointed?

No, not really. I'm just glad to be involved in the 13.

Just want to make the most of the day and hope we win.

Have you been at Wembley before?

I have, yes, 1986 I was here with English Under-16s.

We won 3-2 so hopefully we can continue to win.

It's a bit of a big occasion today.

What are your feelings when you walk out here now?

It's unbelievable. You've just got to experience it for yourself.

It's really my first time playing in front of such a big crowd

so hopefully everything will go well.

Final thought, how many members of your family are here?

Think there's about 24. We only got 24 tickets this year.

The Robins family might have

accounted for 24 of the Wembley tickets

but the two men with the best seats in the house were the

Cup Final grandstand commentary team

of Trevor Brooking and first of all John Motson.

The first all-seater FA Cup Final.

And the first football match in this country to attract total

receipts of over £2 million.

That's the size of the occasion.

And that's what today's 80,000 capacity crowd have paid to

watch the 109th final and the 62nd at Wembley.

And what a moment it is for these Palace lads and their fans.

The first time the club has been in the FA Cup Final

and they're bound to get an appropriate reception.

And just listen to this.

CHEERING

Newcomers Crystal Palace...

Have selected the side that played at Liverpool in the semifinal.

Despite the morning speculation I have a feeling it was

always doubtful Wright would start the game.

He is a substitute.

And Steve Coppell's main decision was who should be the second

sub and there were a few tears at the hotel this

morning from one of two of those who didn't make it.

The unlucky players Eddie McGoldrick,

Rudi Hedman, Jeff Hopkins

but that's the team that beat Liverpool 4-3

and certainly it's the formation Palace know can do a job for them.

With possibly Andy Gray at 4, the man to watch on the set plays

and Mark Bright the main striker at number 9.

As for Manchester United

Alex Ferguson had one or two thoughts but

the semifinal replay team against Oldham won his nod of approval

Danny Wallace selected ahead of Mark Robins who is

one of the substitutes.

And Alex Ferguson also slept on the selection of his second sub

Clayton Blackmore just edged out Mal Donaghy.

But Michael Phelan at number 5 will play right-back

and Hughes will be very much alone up front in theory

but in practice, Webb - number 8 - and the other midfield players

will be expected to give him support.

Bryan Robson on the right is bidding to become the first captain

to receive the FA Cup three times at Wembley.

And Geoff Thomas on the left started life as a part-time player

with Rochdale when he was working as an electrician.

He supported Manchester City.

And he used to catch the team coach in his overalls in those days.

What a change for him today as captain of an FA Cup Final team.

The referee is Allan Gunn

from South Chailey in Sussex.

Crystal Palace won the toss for choice of colours

and they're wearing their familiar red and blue vertical stripes.

Very nice strip it is, too.

Manchester United in all white

which their long-serving supporters will remind me

they used in the finals of 1957 and although I don't think

any of us go back that far, 1909 when they first won the cup.

So Palace start the game.

This surface is in quite marvellous condition.

Bryan Robson himself said to me

he can't recall the Wembley pitch looking and feeling better.

"If you can't play on this," was his pre-match comment,

"well, perhaps you shouldn't be here."

Barber tries to play the ball through.

John Salako played left back in the semifinal against Liverpool

wearing number ten and he's there again.

His job will be to shadow Brian McClair on the United right,

as we try to...

..form a view on the various tactical implications.

Here's Michael Phelan, number five for United.

Thorn away.

That's Ince in midfield, although he's wearing number two.

That's where you'll find him.

Pallister for Manchester United.

McClair has now pulled away to the left.

And look where Salako has gone. He's gone with him.

That's a man-to-man arrangement.

They prepare so carefully,

Steve Coppell there with Alan Smith and Ian Branfoot on the bench,

their tactical approach to these big games.

Bright, again, moving right out to the touchline.

Taking defenders with him.

Gray.

And still, well, he was flattened the second time.

Danny Wallace...

Now, this could be dangerous.

Once Gray gets to his feet,

provided he is fit enough to take the free kick,

Dave West, the Palace physio will come on.

Of course, they sit so close to each other in Wembley, the two managers.

Free kick to Crystal Palace.

Andy Gray's back on his feet to take it.

Thorn... O'Reilly's in there.

And was it over the line?

And it's a goal!

Gary O'Reilly...

after 19 minutes.

It was in the net before Steve Bruce could get his foot to it.

And Crystal Palace, the underdogs,

have taken the lead in precisely the way many people expected.

The free kick, I think it was bent in by Barber there.

Whether that came of Pallister's head, as well, I'm not quite sure.

O'Reilly's taking the congratulations.

And was that Pallister or O'Reilly?

Anyway, Bruce couldn't keep it out, and Palace are in front.

Well, they took the lead, just as everybody anticipated

Palace would if they did score - from a set piece.

On that occasion, of course, it was right near the touchline.

Manchester United couldn't push out to the 18-yard box -

they were hemmed in near the penalty spot.

Jim Leighton did come for the cross, didn't get there,

and it looped agonisingly into the empty net and 1-0.

Well, the Minister of Sport must be fairly pleased on the response

he got from the UEFA President before the kick-off today.

Colin Moynihan can now enjoy the game after a busy week.

This is Phelan, though, and they're coming in from the far post.

McClair!

And well blocked, Salako.

It's a goal kick because McClair, I think, got an extra touch.

Although he wouldn't agree with that.

John Salako did some valiant defending there for Crystal Palace.

It was a delightful ball from Michael Phelan.

It was aimed at McClair but Salako was closing it down.

Here's Phelan.

Foul - Barber.

Wallace, good ball in.

Hughes is there. McClair!

And I think that hit a Palace player last. That's a corner.

I think John Salako was the player that actually put that ball out.

It was Danny Wallace's cross,

and I'm pretty sure that comes off Salako.

Webb will take the corner. Pallister on the near post.

McClair on the goal-line.

Bruce and Robson waiting to come in.

Back header! Oh, goodness me!

I think that was...

probably Mark Bright

who actually got his head to that.

So, we'll look at it again. Yes, number nine for Palace.

Pallister. They want it played in. Hughes is waiting, too.

But Palace's defensive play at the moment is sound. It's compact.

And if Gray hadn't been impeded,

they would have been away there, but this is Martin.

Referee saw nothing wrong.

Ince.

That's a good-looking ball from McClair.

Wallace comes near post.

Wallace.

McClair. Robson!

Goal!

Bryan Robson equalises for Manchester United

after 35 minutes

and Captain Marvel is there again.

Now, good play here.

Danny Wallace just worked the ball out wide.

The cross was delivered long to the far post and Bryan...

Oh, there was a deflection off a defender, as well, there.

It's one each.

And as Robson gets the header in,

that's John Pemberton I think, was it?

Or maybe the man in front of him

that just diverted it to make it 1-1.

Great emotion in the crowd.

This is Bruce.

In by Wallace. Webb.

McClair. Hughes!

No, not quite.

Can Phelan retrieve it? He can.

McClair!

And it could so easily have been 2-1 to United.

And Alex Ferguson thought it was for a moment.

He was on his feet as Brian McClair, who made the first goal,

nearly scored the second.

It's Webb working well there on the far side.

It nearly ran for Hughes.

Now look what happens.

Michael Phelan, a great cutback.

And McClair's header the wrong side of the post.

A superb cross by Michael Phelan, and really Brian McClair

will go in at half-time wondering how on earth he missed it.

WHISTLE BLOWS

And there is the half-time whistle.

And the two teams in the 1990 FA Cup Final go off level.

So, at half-time at Wembley it's...

Bright sunshine now.

It's Webb for Manchester United.

Still not perhaps dominating the game in midfield. This is Andy Gray.

And Ince gets in the way.

But Gray won't be denied.

Here's Pemberton. This is exactly what he did in the semifinal!

And Bryan Robson, rather more aware than the Liverpool defenders were!

John Pemberton must take sort of some special...

something special in his cup of tea at half-time.

I won't suggest anything stronger than that.

But he does seem to come out full of running.

Martin.

Robson.

Oh, goodness me, they're manhandling Robson a bit. That was Gray.

The referee says, "You've got the ball," to Lee Martin. Play on.

Good advantage by Allan Gunn.

Here's Pallister.

And United with seven players forward in this attack.

One of them is Ince here.

And now, Pallister.

And Webb.

Palace making them work so hard to get forward. Phelan.

Wallace.

Ince.

Salako having another good game at left back,

which was something of an unfamiliar position to him

at the beginning of the season.

And Paul Ince was the player he stopped there.

Webb.

Palace dwelling. Wallace.

A ricochet - Hughes!

2-1 to Manchester United.

And a devastating finish by Mark Hughes.

And I have to say, the Palace defence

were pussyfooting around a bit there, really.

They had their chance to clear,

Thorn didn't do so. And when it

came to Hughes' left foot

that was a deadly goal-scorer's instinct.

After 62 minutes, Mark Hughes

scores his 14th goal of the season,

his first in the FA Cup this season,

and it puts Manchester United into a 2-1 lead.

Take nothing away from Hughes - that was first-class -

but Crystal Palace's manager told them yesterday,

"Whatever you do, make sure you concentrate

"for the whole 90 minutes."

And just for a few seconds there, they lost it,

and they paid the price.

Here we have the ricochet,

and suddenly Gary O'Reilly coming

out of defence, caught flat-footed,

and there is Mark Hughes, hits it in.

And there's a happy man there, I think.

They say that Mark Hughes doesn't score the simple goals,

only the spectacular ones.

Well, that was, if you like, a simple opportunity,

but it was taken in some style.

Webb.

There goes Phelan, good running from right-back.

Hughes in the middle again.

Wallace.

Webb.

Three in the centre.

Hughes!

Oh, how did they get that out?

Andy Thorn, I think,

miraculously from McClair.

What a clearance.

That could have killed the game completely.

And they know it down there.

Marvellous cross by Neil Webb there to the far post.

Actually, the cross is beyond the far post, the goal.

Mark Hughes had the one chested

down early in this second half.

And that one there that's causing Palace problems

is beyond the far post.

Well, Mark Hughes looks to be

the man for the big occasion.

I remember him making the goal for Norman Whiteside

when United last won the Cup.

But it's early to talk about that.

Here's Bright.

Pallister.

And look where Jim Leighton was.

When Pallister sliced that ball over his own crossbar,

the goalkeeper had come, and must have been eight yards out.

It's a ball played in here by Mark Bright,

there's Leighton coming to claim it,

but never got a chance.

Now then, corner.

Always the danger signal,

with Palace bending them in.

On that occasion, bending, then over.

And Crystal Palace are going to make a change.

Ian Wright, the whizz kid from Woolwich,

who made a huge impression last season

when Palace won promotion,

but who's twice had a hairline fracture of his shinbone,

and has only played in four

of the last 22 matches.

He's missed the last ten, in fact.

This is his moment now to prove that he's fit

and able to make a contribution.

Wallace.

Webb back to Wallace,

and there goes Robson, onside.

Hughes coming in from the far post, but it's Bryan Robson,

and a good challenge by Alan Pardew,

forcing Robson to shoot wide at the last.

I would think that Bobby Robson up in the stand, Trevor, would be

very pleased to see Bryan Robson

so active and so involved.

Well, those sort of runs are the ones he's famous for.

It's that sort of run which got him his semifinal goal,

wasn't it, against Oldham?

But on that occasion, Alan Pardew did very well.

He couldn't quite get in a tackle

cos it was in a dangerous situation,

could have conceded a penalty, but just shouldered him off-balance

enough so as he couldn't hit a good shot.

Now, here's Wright, his first chance to show what he can do.

And he's through! It's Wright...

oh, what an impact by the substitute!

It's 2-2.

And it's Ian Wright who has sent

the Palace supporters into ecstasy.

The ball played through to him in not the best position,

I have to say, but look what he made of this.

He turned the defender beautifully

and slid it wide of Jim Leighton.

And that was in the 73rd minute,

just three minutes after

Ian Wright had come on.

And what a lovely individual goal.

A touch of the Ricky Villas about that one, Trevor.

He looks pretty pleased there - I'm not surprised.

I do believe it was his first touch, wasn't it?

He'd been running around, as you do as a substitute,

trying to get a touch.

Here he is, and is really Gary Pallister caught very flat-footed.

You shouldn't let a striker turned in on goal like that.

You should funnel him to the touchline.

He kept his head well, kept it low.

And really, that is him at his best.

Turns inside, he's so quick,

always on his toes, sees that corner.

What a Cup this has been, hasn't it?

Always topsy-turvy matches, and there Steve Coppell -

the masterstroke substitution, shall we say?

But that has to go down as one of the classic individual

Cup Final goals.

It came out of nothing from a player whose skill factor

is well-recognised,

but who many people felt wasn't fit enough to take part today.

well, he's proved them all wrong.

Steve Coppell has been proved right, because to leave him out

of the starting line-up, and then bring him on when something fresh

was needed, has proved at this stage

to be something of a masterstroke.

McClair, Webb.

Wallace making a run across the box.

He and Hughes hit each other... HE LAUGHS

..and both finished on the ground.

It's a sign of the...

..confusion that seems to have spread through United

the last few minutes.

In fact, Wallace has got hurt.

And Hughes is down.

And this could be the signal maybe for Robins to get ready.

I see no movement yet on the bench.

There's the young man.

McClair.

Webb.

Robson!

Good save by Martyn.

Certainly was typical Bryan Robson,

getting in late again.

He might have got the faintest of touches,

but I'm sure it came back off the post in the end.

Lee Martin is walking across towards the touchline...

..and Clayton Blackmore is the player coming on.

So they're saving Robins, I presume, for extra time.

Now, Blackmore can play left-back, so that's a straight switch.

Manchester United's fans urging them to one last effort here.

McClair..

We're into stoppage time.

Thomas, hounded by Robson,

good enough to get away.

You can see who's the more anxious over there - Alex Ferguson

and Archie Knox both off the bench

trying to retrieve the ball.

Webb, Phelan.

McClair.

Wallace in the middle, so is Hughes.

He couldn't get past Andy Thorn, but it is a corner.

Now, then.

Neil Webb will take it.

Gary Pallister has come forward, so has Steve Bruce,

so has Bryan Robson.

And Geoff Thomas didn't have to do much apart from chest that down,

and he's found Wright with a very good ball.

And Gray wants to make a run, and so does Bright.

Wright's keeping the ball for the moment.

He's got options either way.

It's still Wright.

They're screaming for it on the right wing.

Bright now.

Still Mark Bright, he's going right across the line.

He wants help again now.

Thomas.

Gray.

Good turn by Gray.

Well, what a finish that would have been.

Just look how disturbed he is.

And Andy Gray always likes to go

for something out of the ordinary.

Flag's up, referee says play on.

McClair was in there, and so was Pemberton.

This is a determined assault by Manchester United

in the third minute of stoppage time

to snatch the winning goal.

Pallister's hobbling,

but he's up there nevertheless.

Pallister.

Hughes! No.

Trevor?

Well, it'd have been a bit heartbreaking, I think,

for Crystal Palace - any side, perhaps -

to lose it now in these last few seconds.

Lets them go into extra time and see who is going to

conjure up perhaps the opening,

or are we going to have another replay?

It seems to be a saga this season, doesn't it?

Certainly a very good second half,

and there's the final whistle.

Both managers now are going to do a lot of talking just to

lift their side in these extra 30 minutes.

It's United playing from left to right

in the first period.

Bryan Robson.

I don't think Bobby Robson would want a replay here,

would he, with England players involved?

Because England are due to play Denmark on Tuesday, and there

would be a replay of the FA Cup Final if required on Thursday here.

So don't book that night out just yet.

This is McClair.

Ince.

Good running on the far side by

Clayton Blackmore, the substitute.

Andy Gray went back with him.

Just managed to get the ball away.

Here's Wright.

WHISTLE Foul by Bruce.

Webb.

O'Reilly, Salako, who's playing

further forward now that Shaw

is in an orthodox left-back position here.

Salako is playing wide on the left,

in Barber's old position.

Phelan is challenging him.

Wright!

Goal!

It's Ian Wright again.

Palace are in front at 3-2...

..and Steve Coppell,

he's made one of the great substitutions.

And the Palace players have been called back by the referee.

It's a goal all right, but they've

been called back from celebrating.

Don't let me take it away from Wright - what a good finish -

but it was interesting there. In the lines of current crowd control,

Allan Gunn ran behind the goal

and pulled them all back from the crowd.

It's 3-2 to Crystal Palace.

Ian Wright has scored his second

in the 92nd minute.

And as last year, we have a substitute

who's come on and scored two goals.

Just as Rush and McCall did.

Here's McClair for Manchester United.

It's Phelan.

Appeals for handball. It's McClair again.

And that's out.

Well, Trevor, they've done it again.

At least, they've taken the lead again,

and they've got to bring on Robins now.

Well, one substitution has

meant that the other one is going

to be brought on, as well.

A really good cross

from John Salako there,

and Ian Wright getting in behind Stevie Bruce.

He wondered whether Jim Leighton could get to the cross,

but it was a really good, deep cross.

Really, Steve Bruce just went

to sleep for a couple of yards.

Meantime, we're going to get the second Manchester United

substitution. And Gary Pallister... CROWD JEER

..who I feel has been struggling a little bit with an injury -

I don't know whether the crowd would appreciate that,

he was hobbling earlier -

he's the man going off.

And 20-year-old Mark Robins -

they say he's got the goal-scoring touch just like Ian Wright,

and he's proved it this season in the FA Cup.

Can he do for Manchester United what Wright, the number 12,

has done for Crystal Palace?

Two minutes left in this first period,

United still trail 3-2.

And here's McClair with a chance to get the ball in, perhaps.

There's three waiting.

Hughes.

Oh, a typical Mark Hughes effort.

They'd have loved to see that one go in, the United fans.

And it's a speciality of Mark Hughes, this, the bicycle kick.

Really a great skill, but on this occasion wide of the goal.

Well... HE LAUGHS

..they voted Kenny Dalglish manager of the year,

they gave Joe Royle a special reward,

I'm sure both well-deserved.

But I wonder what you'd say about the job

Steve Coppell's done this year?

And the whistle goes.

There's still 15 minutes more.

APPLAUSE

Now, at this point the managers are not supposed to come on,

but I can see Steve Coppell striding a few yards in

to bark out some more instructions.

And Alex Ferguson has not

moved in muscle at the moment.

They are 3-2 ahead,

and their supporters are preparing

for one of the great celebrations

in South London.

In fact, it's a South London boy who's put them in this position -

Ian Wright, born in Woolwich.

And I think it was Greenwich Borough he was playing for

when he was first spotted by Crystal Palace,

but certainly from humble origins.

And his two goals have put them in a winning position.

Can they hold on to it?

And can Manchester United turn it round as yet?

Webb.

Wallace.

And Robson's got a great run on here.

Pemberton got to him just in time.

This is Hughes.

The danger's not over yet.

Ince.

Good effort!

Oh, fine save by Nigel Martyn.

APPLAUSE

Well, when he was called upon there,

he was right in line.

It's a good shot, this, by Ince,

and a good tip over.

Now then, the corner by Danny Wallace

Short to Webb.

Wallace again.

Hughes was in there with Bruce,

so O'Reilly's header out.

Ince.

And here's Wright.

He's away again, and it's three against two.

He's got Gray in the middle and Bright on the far side,

completely unmarked.

Offside. Flag was up. It wouldn't have mattered,

even though Andy Gray knows it was a bad piece of control.

This is Webb. Robson's free

if he can find him square.

Wallace will.

Hughes.

McClair.

Phelan out on the right.

Salako tries to get to him and fails.

It's Michael Phelan for United.

Dipping shot.

Beautifully tried.

Oh, he's good at those.

I remember one playing for England when he nearly scored.

They gave Phelan a bit too much room actually.

Salako dived in a bit there.

Didn't get hold of things at all.

And look where the keeper is. Six-yard line. Now, that's a dipper.

And it just clips the roof of the net.

Palace leading 3-2.

Robson.

Webb to Wallace.

Hughes goes through the middle. Chance here for 3-3!

Mark Hughes!

He's scored his second of the game.

And Manchester United have saved themselves.

The ball just stepped through by Danny Wallace

and the central defenders gave him too much space.

O'Reilly wasn't close enough

and Hughes steered it past Martyn.

And so what Ian Wright has done for Palace,

Mark Hughes has done for Manchester United.

He's scored twice.

And with just seven minutes of extra time to go,

the score is 3-3.

Webb for Manchester United with Robins making the forward run

with O'Reilly marking him.

And Robson's in support.

And Robins finds a way back to Webb.

And then Robins again. And Blackmore was in there.

Well, are we going to come back on Thursday night for a replay?

That's the next question.

But you almost don't want to say anything now

for fear of speaking too soon.

It's Bright.

And it's Blackmore.

Goodness gracious.

Webb.

Defenders are all over the place. Robins.

They will settle for the corner.

Yes, there are plenty of players feeling the effects now.

Webb to take the corner. He's pulled it back to Wallace.

Blackmore is square.

Clayton Blackmore.

Goodness me, that hit the roof of the net as well.

It is a long-range speciality.

And that one, Nigel Martyn was beaten.

And I think we're going to see a second Palace substitution, are we?

Now then, David Madden.

A Londoner. Midfield player, essentially.

Comes on with three minutes to go.

Bruce.

Hughes. Robins is to his right.

Hughes has led the line really well, I have to say.

He's had a terrific match.

Full of energy and determination

and finishing power.

WHISTLE Oh, now then.

The ball was nowhere near when that foul was committed.

It was John Pemberton on Danny Wallace.

And a little bit of anger creeping in there.

But it was a rather strange thing for Pemberton to do,

because he didn't seem to need to give away a free kick

in that position.

And there's a few words being exchanged

between the two players, as well.

Now, Neil Webb and Paul Ince have placed the ball.

And they're...just waiting for the referee to move away.

Webb.

Robson!

Goodness me.

I think his expression says it all there.

The expression does say it,

because really that was a typical Bryan Robson position.

Hands on his hips there, at the edge of the area. Off he goes.

It was perfectly weighted.

He just couldn't push off with those heavy calves

to get over the ball to head it down.

And in fact just cleared the crossbar.

But that was a good opportunity.

Thomas against McClair.

Corner.

Well, Palace would settle for that.

We've had the 30 minutes of extra time.

We're into time being added on for stoppages,

and the substitute, David Madden, will take the corner.

Thorn and O'Reilly to take up their normal near-post positions.

And Pardew just about on the penalty spot.

Thorn's flick.

And... Oh, Mark Bright, it was.

With Jim Leighton scrambling it behind.

Or did he? United are arguing.

The referee's given a corner, and they don't think it was.

They're saying it went straight past from Mark Bright.

You can probably see from this,

well, it hit the post, didn't it?

Corner again.

Madden.

Thorn won't reach it this time. WHISTLE BLOWS

And the referee has blown, and the FA Cup Final of 1990 ends in a draw.

Mark Hughes with two goals for Manchester United

as Alex Ferguson's team save themselves in extra time.

And Ian Wright with two goals for Crystal Palace,

who were 1-0 up, 2-1 down, 3-2 up,

and whose fans in the end applaud not just their own players,

like Gary O'Reilly,

but everybody on the pitch, I would think.

For a stirring, gripping encounter.

When you came on, you made quite a difference.

I was fortunate enough to get a good knock-down from Mark

and I just cut inside him slightly.

It's good to have a first touch in the box

because that kind of thing happens.

So, to score was a bit of a bonus, really.

And then the goal in extra time?

Well, you know, you think you do enough in extra time.

But, like, all credit to them.

It was early in extra time, that's what it was.

So, they always had a chance and all credit to them,

they never stopped coming at us.

In the end, they got what they deserved.

Did you think, though, that you'd won it?

Well, as it was going on, they've done a lot of play.

They played lovely football into the front men and all that.

They always had a chance

and then if you give Sparky half a chance, he took it.

Sparky Hughes, half a chance and you took it.

Yeah, we left it a bit late

but, thankfully, we've got another chance on Thursday.

If it's half as good as that game, I hope everybody enjoyed it.

-Did you both enjoy it?

-Oh, yeah.

-Well, yeah.

-Obviously, we would have liked to have won.

-Yeah, exactly.

But it was a good game and it was played in the right spirit,

which is the main thing.

The inevitable question, did you think you had it won?

No, never ever.

I knew a few of our legs were going, obviously,

a few United legs were going.

But you just have the mentality when you are in front,

you just sit back a little bit.

I was always concerned.

I was always worried about just nicking one.

That's the way it happened.

Alex, let me ask you.

I mean, did you think it was lost?

Yeah, when you're down in extra time,

in the second period of extra time, you do.

It's a worrying time.

But I've got to give the lads credit,

they kept at Palace, they just kept going and kept going.

I ended up with McClair right back.

Ince, third right.

Webb, I think he was playing...

Double centre, treble centre forward.

I mean, it was just gay abandon.

-I think that Steve will agree, it's...

-A manager's nightmare.

It's a manager's nightmare.

I think the goals were, he'll probably agree,

losing goals the way we did.

But they made it. I made it.

The substitution, when you brought Ian Wright on,

that changed things, didn't it?

Yeah, you know, I always had that up my sleeve

and I knew Ian is a match-winner.

That's why he was there.

He wasn't 100% fit, but he just showed what he could do, you know?

At the start of the game, I think if he had started,

he would have waned a little bit.

Whereas coming on fresh,

he made such an impact and he's such a buoyant character.

It was exactly as we thought it would go.

You're meant to be going to the West Indies on Wednesday?

-That would be a good idea, wouldn't it?

-I insist you go!

You can't break promises.

So, no trip to the Caribbean.

And whilst at 3-3 draw remains one of the most exciting finals

of the modern era,

the replay five days later was a much more forgettable affair.

Remembered for a bold goalkeeping selection

and a solitary match-winning goal from United's Lee Martin.

The FA Cup, once again, creating an unlikely hero

and kicking off the greatest managerial reign

ever seen on these isles.

Alex Ferguson's first trophy with United would be followed by 37 more,

including 13 Premier League titles.

Football's Holy Grail at last captured by its foremost knight.

Knights, warriors, legends and great battles -

the FA Cup has seen it all and,

hopefully, they'll be plenty more tales yet to be told.

Goodbye.