As the clock ticks down to Tuesday's trip to Old Trafford, we look back at a Dennis Bailey inspired victory at the Theatre of Dreams.

MANCHESTER UNITED 1, QUEENS PARK RANGERS 4

Wednesday 1st January 1992 - Barclays League, Division One

Dennis Bailey thrilled the live television audience with a glorious hat-trick as Rangers won at Old Trafford for the first time in their history.

This New Year's Day fixture kicked-off at 5.00pm to accommodate ITV's cameras. Manchester United topped the table that morning and ranked as 9/2 ON favourites to lift the title. Meanwhile, the Super Hoops were just below halfway, but had gone six games undefeated.

Against all the odds, the R's put on an invigorating performance and forged into an early 2-0 lead! After just three minutes, Roy Wegerle and Simon Barker combined to set up Andy Sinton for a powerful finish.

Barely two minutes later, Bailey held off a challenge from United's Clayton Blackmore and shot home from 15 yards via goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel's hands.

QPR's neat passing football and solid tackling continually troubled the home side. Bailey lashed over and Wegerle missed an open goal as the chances piled up.

Then on 59 minutes, Sinton tickled through an inviting pass which Bailey pounced upon and fired into the net in magnificent fashion.

Brian McClair pulled back a consolation goal for United on 82 minutes, but until then R's keeper Jan Stejskal had not been forced into making a save.

Bailey completed the scoring with five minutes to go, following up to tap home after Sinton's swerving drive was pushed onto the post by Schmeichel. This sealed United's worst home defeat since 1977.

Rangers boss Gerry Francis said afterwards: "It was a very good performance. But as Brian Moore said in the TV commentary, we are playing well enough to match anybody."

Bailey, a devout Christian, said: "This is a dream come true for me at Old Trafford. My first ever hat-trick and at a ground I have only ever been to once before. That was eight years ago when I was a fan supporting Tottenham in a Cup match.

"I could not quite believe what happened to me out there on the pitch against United. But I am convinced that I did it with God's assistance. God helped me do this - as he always helps me. I will be saying prayers of thanks for what has occurred here.

"I go to church - the Pentecostal in Brixton - every Sunday anyway, when I reflect on the week just passed. I am totally convinced that I always have God on my side.

"And because of my beliefs, I won't deride Manchester United now. Sure we hammered them and I enjoyed every moment of it, but you won't hear me rubbing it in."

United boss Alex Ferguson said: "That was just unbelievable and we got what we deserved. It was a lack of determination in clearing the ball and defending properly. We hadn't even got started when QPR were 2-0 up."

Manchester United: Schmeichel, Parker, Blackmore, Bruce, Pallister, Webb, Ince, Phelan (Giggs), McClair, Hughes, Sharpe.

QPR: Stejskal, Bardsley, Wilson, Wilkins, Peacock, McDonald, Holloway, Barker, Bailey, Wegerle, Sinton.

Attendance: 38,554.