PROUDLY leading City out from that famous corner entrance to the Theatre of Dreams was York-born defensive sentinel Steve Tutill.

His verdict a decade later: "It was an amazing experience.

"I remember I had to go into the referee's room before the kick-off with Gary Pallister, who was the Man U skipper that night. That's when it started to sink in just where we were playing. This was Old Trafford, a brilliant stadium and even though it wasn't a full house the atmosphere was still electric."

Tutill and his rearguard partner Tony Barras, who scored City's other goal in the stunning victory, were up against a United attack of Scottish international Brian McClair and Welsh wizard Ryan Giggs.

In one memorable photograph by Evening Press lensman Nigel Holland, Giggs is surrounded by a cordon of Tutill, Andy McMillan and Darren Williams.

Tutill recalled: "In the hotel before the game I was talking to Andy Mac and we were wondering whether we would get walloped or we would end up enjoying it. Did we enjoy it.

"To come in 1-0 up at half-time was incredible enough, but to go on and win 3-0 when, in that season, United never suffered a single other defeat at home as they won the League and FA Cup double, was unbelievable.

"The thing was we played so well. We shocked them.

"Our football had been so good that even the Man U fans gave us a round of applause at the end of the match."

The then City captain added how the entire squad were immediately swamped by media attention right up and beyond the second leg in which United boss Sir Alex Ferguson recalled the likes of Peter Schmeichel, Steve Bruce, Paul Scholes, Andy Cole and even Eric Cantona.

"They were 2-0 up with 15 minutes gone and I thought here we go'," said Tutill.

"But Scott Jordan got a goal and we hung on to win 4-3 on aggregate. It was fantastic."