Stuart James talks to Mark Robins, whose goal saved Alex Ferguson from the sack 15 years ago

If tonight's Champions League fixture in Lisbon represents a pressure match for Alex Ferguson, it hardly compares with a January afternoon more than 15 years ago when the Manchester United manager arrived at the City Ground one defeat from the sack and was reprieved by a striker barely out of his teens.

The match against Benfica promises to be the most significant since that FA Cup third-round tie with Nottingham Forest when Mark Robins emerged as an unlikely saviour.

The 20-year-old forward was a virtual unknown, having broken into the United first team only a couple of weeks earlier, though by scoring the game's only goal he loosened the noose around Ferguson's neck and changed his own profile forever.

"Everyone remembers me for that goal because of the significance that later came out of having won the Cup," said Robins, who made 71 appearances for United before joining Norwich. "If it was the case that my goal saved his job I'm pleased and I'm proud to have put them on that road to all that success they've achieved and for him to prove what a good manager he is, but as far as I'm concerned, I was just doing my job."

Ferguson must feel likewise. He has never mentioned the goal to Robins on the occasions their paths have crossed since - not that the 35-year-old, now youth team coach at Rotherham, expects thanks - though United fans were quicker to show their gratitude.

"The first time I returned to United with Norwich I got a standing ovation from the supporters," he said. "From that generation I think everyone remembers me for that particular goal, which is a shame really because I had a decent career."

There was little sign of the trophy-laden years that lay ahead when United travelled to Forest in 1990. They had gone eight league games without a victory and Ferguson, having failed to win any silverware since taking over three years earlier, was on the brink.

"For our standards, we were poor and we were struggling in the league," said Robins. "It was the last competition in which we were involved and we needed to go and do something special in it and fortunately we did."

Robins played an integral part in that success, scoring match-winning goals against Newcastle and Oldham en route to the final where United would eventually triumph in a replay against Crystal Palace. It is the Forest strike, however, that continues to resonate with United fans, who reason but for that goal, Ferguson would have departed and the success that subsequently followed might never have happened.

Robins, though, was oblivious to the furore surrounding Ferguson. "It's down to a manager to defuse situations like that and he did it well," he added. "He took the pressure off us. I've listened to older players speak about the game and they were aware of the pressure he was under, but because I was so young, I was more focused on other things."

Not that he should have picked up on Ferguson's body language. "There was no sign of relief," recalled Robins.

"He was obviously delighted we won but he was no different to what he would have been on any other occasion. He just gave a normal debrief after the game and told us to focus on the next match. He was really good at doing that."

Much like winning. "He even cheated at head tennis," Robins said. "We used to play him and Archie Knox and he'd be nicking points off us because he wants to win at all costs." As no doubt he will tonight.