The England international had been part of the side that agonisingly missed out on the championship to Leeds United in the final campaign of the old Division One, in 1991/92. Twelve months on and with the Reds bidding to end 26 years of chasing that objective, the pressure was cranked up when Wednesday took a second-half lead through John Sheridan's penalty.
The spot-kick had been awarded by John Hilditch, the substitute referee who replaced Mike Peck, when he was forced off with an Achilles problem. The lengthy period required for the change, in addition to a couple of injuries, led to the additional minutes that spawned the whole concept of 'Fergie time'.