But 1991 was Tangerines

It was almost the last touch of normal time and such a blow to a ’Well team that looked out on their feet and seemed to have one hand on the cup. Surely United would go on and win in extra-time.

Just four minutes into the first added period, though, what proved the final blow was struck when Steve Kirk earned himself immortal status at Fir Park with a header to put his team 4-3 up.

United threw everything into attack but this time there was no way back.

And what had been dubbed the family final, because of the absence of the Old Firm and the fact opposing managers Jim and Tommy McLean were brothers, ended in controversy.

Believing Main had been fouled at the winning goal, several players confronted referee David Syme in the tunnel afterwards and that led to bans being dished out.

“Jimmy McInally had blisters so he’d taken his boots of out on the pitch and unfortunately one of them seemed to bounce off the ref’s head,” said goal scorer Bowman.

“We did certainly feel their fourth goal shouldn’t have stood so that, and the fact we lost, meant it might have been a classic final but for us there was no consolation.

“Thankfully, we went on to win the cup three years later.

“However, nothing really ever makes up for the ones you lost.”

Motherwell ran out 4-3 winners after extra-time at Hampden.