Five prime ministers have held office since Tottenham Hotspur last won at Old Trafford prior to their 3-2 Premier Leaguewin on Saturday.
Alex Ferguson hadn't won a trophy when Gary Lineker scored the only goal nine days before Christmas to leave the Scot feeling as miserable as Scrooge in 1989.
A week earlier, a United fan unveiled a banner during the home defeat to Crystal Palace which read '3 years of excuses and it's still crap... Ta ra Fergie'. His protest at United's plight was largely shared, for three months earlier the Reds lost what is now known throughout Manchester as 'The 5-1' to City at Maine Road.
The goal itself was an uncharacteristic Lineker effort. Rather than lurking like a poacher, he hit a long-range screamer past Jim Leighton, possibly caught napping as the surreal scenario of Lineker shooting from range became a reality.
Tottenham, under the management of Terry Venables, would finish third in Division One - albeit 16 points behind champions Liverpool - while United reached a dire 13th as the FA Cup took precedent for their success-starved manager.