Details have emerged of the favour that former Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough did for Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson early on in his Old Trafford career. 

Clough and Ferguson are two of the greats of English football management but it has been suggested that the Scotsman was not overly fond of Clough, who he regarded as rude.

However, details have emerged of a deal that was struck between United and Forest back in 1990, which saw Clough help out his First Division adversary.

In the 1989/90 campaign, Ferguson's side were short of a back-up goalkeeper as they waited on a decision to be made over a work permit for Mark Bosnich.

So, according to Teesside Live, Clough did the United boss a favour by sending him Mark Crossley on a short-term loan deal.

The Red Devils would claim an FA Cup win that season, the first trophy of the Ferguson era, and beat Forest en-route to the final.

Crossley did not play in that match but the 1-0 win is often regarded as the game the saved the United manager's job.

The shot-stopper was recalled from the deal early by Forest and went on to make more than 300 appearances for the East Midlands club.

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The Verdict

It's interesting to get some insight into this little-known incident between two of the great managers of English football.

The 1989/90 campaign was a pivotal one for Ferguson at United, which makes Clough's favour to the Scotsman even more intruiging.

It doesn't appear to have altered Ferguson's view of Clough, however, as his description of him in his book reveals.