After a 26-year wait, Alex Ferguson (pre-knighthood) guided Manchester United to a league title in 1993 - success that had not been seen at Old Trafford since the days of Sir Matt Busby and George Best.

That triumph proved to be the leg-up that the club needed because the following season they retained the trophy, holding an eight-point advantage over second-placed Blackburn Rovers.

What's more, they had disposed of relegated Oldham Athletic to reach that season's FA Cup final at Wembley, where they would take on a Chelsea side managed by former England international Glenn Hoddle 20 years ago today.

During their run to the final, the West Londoners had beaten four non-Premier League sides in Barnet, Oxford United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Luton in the semi-finals, while they could also muster just a 14th-place finish in the Premier League.

However, United were wary of Hoddle's men, who had recorded two 1-0 victories over the champions during the course of the season thanks to goals from Gavin Peacock.

The attacker went ever so close to scoring for a third time against United during a drab first half at a rain-soaked Wembley with a looping half-volley, but despite beating Peter Schmeichel, his effort cannoned to safety off the crossbar.

The Red Devils, bidding for the first league and cup double in their history, went on to make the most off that escape after the restart when Chelsea defender Eddie Newton brought down Denis Irwin inside the area with a rash challenge on the hour mark. The first Frenchman to play in an FA Cup final, Eric Cantona, stepped up to slot the resultant penalty inside the right post.

Then, just six minutes later, Cantona had another opportunity from 12 yards when Frank Sinclair was adjudged to have bundled over United winger Andrei Kanchelskis. Cantona repeated the trick, again sending Dimitri Kharine the wrong way to double his side's advantage.

Sinclair was then deeply involved as United added a third in the 69th minute as it was his slip that presented the ball to Mark Hughes. The Welshman, who had spared United's blushes in the semi-finals against Oldham by scoring late in extra time to force a replay, broke clear of the Chelsea defence, before firing a low shot across Kharine and into the net.

As they pushed forward, Chelsea were susceptible to the counter-attack and that is how they conceded a fourth goal in the final minute. Hughes freed Paul Ince and the midfielder rounded a helpless Kharine, but instead of scoring himself, he squared the ball for substitute Brian McClair to roll in from close range.

"It's been wonderful to play for Manchester United all season. At the moment we are the best team in the country and maybe in Europe," said two-goal hero Cantona after the match.

MAN UNITED: Schmeichel; Parker, Bruce, Pallister, Irwin (Sharpe); Kanchelskis (McClair), Ince, Keane, Giggs; Cantona, Hughes

CHELSEA: Kharine; Johnsen, Sinclair, Kjeldbjerg, Clarke; Newton, Burley, Wise, Spencer; Peacock, Stein