Manchester Utd v Millwall
The FA Cup Final
Millennium Stadium
22 May 2004


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Former England captain and three-time FA Cup-winning legend Bryan Robson is one of the most respected figures in the game, having won everything on offer.

Of all the glittering prizes that he picked up along the way, the trophy that has pride of place in his heart is The FA Cup he won in 1990 after Manchester United beat Crystal Palace in a replayed Final.

Though Robson had already won The Cup twice the previous decade – in 1983 against Brighton and 1985 against Everton – the win fourteen years ago was all the more special because of the intense pressure that the Manchester United players and manager Sir Alex Ferguson were under throughout that season.

There was constant speculation over Ferguson’s future as the side struggled to impress in the League and, by the time they faced Nottingham Forest in the Third Round, many believed the Scot’s job was on the line.

Even though the team got to The Final there was still talk of discontent and the thrilling 3-3 draw with Palace, in which Robson equalised Gary O’Reilly’s early goal, did little to ease the nerves.

But unsung hero Lee Martin netted the winner in the replay and ever since that pivotal day, Manchester United and Ferguson have been the dominant force in English football.

"I have great memories of FA Cup Finals, especially as I never lost one as a player - but the 1990 Final is the one I treasure most of all," says Robson.

"Not many people gave Palace a chance, but it showed how good players in smaller clubs can be. Ian Wright and Mark Bright were in their team, so it was no wonder they gave us such a tough one with those two against us.

"We had to go to a replay, but I was just so pleased for all the youngsters in the team who had been given a tough time in the media.

"There was a lot of stick going around and people were saying the team was underachieving and so on.

"People like Paul Ince and Gary Pallister were having to put up with all sorts of criticism.

"There was also talk along the way that Sir Alex Ferguson would have been sacked if we hadn’t won the competition, although I found out later that it wasn’t the case.

"The victory was the launching pad for the club to go on to become the powerhouse it is now.

"It gave us a lot of confidence to go on and the following year we won the European Cup Winners’ Cup and it snowballed from there."

That is not to say that Robson holds his triumphs with the club in 1983 and 1985 in low esteem.

In 1985, Norman Whiteside scored one of the great FA Cup Final goals to beat newly-crowned League champions Everton in extra time, even though United had been reduced to ten men with the sending off of Kevin Moran.

Two years earlier Robson scored two goals as United completely outplayed their opponents, beating Brighton 4-0 in the replay.

But the former England captain believes Brighton’s performance to earn a 2-2 draw in the first game should serve as a warning to the current Manchester United side who are expected to beat Millwall tomorrow afternoon.

He explained: "The game summed up the tradition of The FA Cup. We were strong favourites and yet we were made to fight all the way.

"In the first match we started really well, but Brighton came back and we were fortunate that Gary Bailey made a tremendous save from Gordon Smith near the end.

"It showed that anything can happen on the day and Millwall are a good side. Ray Wilkins and Dennis Wise have done a great job to get them to The Final and do so well in Division One.

"United will have to be at their best and, if they are, I expect them to be too strong for them and win the game."