The 1992 references were getting the dust blown off them as Dundee United stood on the brink of their first win at Celtic Park in nearly 21 years.
On Saturday, as the Tangerines ventured into the second minute of injury-time still leading by Stuart Armstrong’s fine goal, thoughts turned to those days of old when John Major was Prime Minister, the Prince and Princess of Wales had announced their separation and Whitney Houston was at No 1 in the charts with I Will Always Love You.
The history books also tell us that United recorded a 1-0 away win over Celtic on December 26 thanks to a goal from Duncan Ferguson.
The wait for another win has seemed like an eternity and the trips to Parkhead have been far too plentiful without a repeat of that feat managed by big Dunc, who celebrated his 21st birthday the day after netting that winner and is now edging towards 42.
There have been close calls, hard-luck stories and plenty of hammerings along the way.
Finally, though, it looked like United’s time had come to get this particular weight off their shoulders.
A terrific all-round performance had seen them deserve to leave with the three points.
They had taken the lead on 38 minutes when a clever run by Armstrong was seen by Nadir Ciftci.
The Turk’s perfect chip reached the Scotland under-21 skipper and he took the ball left and beat Celtic goalie Fraser Forster with a neat dink just inside the near post.
However, in the 92nd minute they lost a bad goal to former Tannadice player Charlie Mulgrew, with an Emilio Izaguirre cross sneaking into the net via a combination of Mulgrew’s head and shoulder.
The visitors had defended strongly all the way through, with John Souttar, who wasn’t even born in 92, and Gavin Gunning aged just one at the time mopping up every high ball that Celtic threw into the box until then.
It was further last-gasp heartbreak for the Tangerines, who also conceded a late goal up at Inverness to crash out of the Scottish League Cup the previous midweek.
What made it worse was that it was they who missed the chance of the game on 65 minutes, when striker Brian Graham made a hash of what should have been a simple header from point-blank range when picked out by a terrific Ciftci cross from the right.
That would have made it 2-0 and, given the often pedestrian and unimaginative play of the hosts, would surely have tied up the victory.
Graham attempted to explain what happened and insisted he will not be letting the sitter sit on his mind.
“I tried to adjust my feet but it just bounced off me and the chance was gone,” he said. “I was going to head it but the ball went behind me.
“I tried to adjust my feet and as I tried to do that it bounced off me.
“After I missed the chance, everything was running through my mind I should have done this, I should have done that.
“But I am not going to dwell on it. I thought I did well for the team and will just kick on for next week now.
“Last week (against St Mirren) was my first start and I played this game.
“I have not scored yet but, as I said, I am not going to dwell on it and goals will come.
“If I am doing well for the team then that’s the main thing.
“We have come to Celtic Park and got a point but we are bitterly disappointed because we think we should have come away with three.
“Although Celtic were pressing us I couldn’t really see them scoring a goal as the time went on.”
United boss Jackie McNamara, who had made four changes to the side that lost to ICT, admitted the result felt like a defeat.
Nevertheless, he wasn’t too harsh on his players, Graham included.
“I think Brian was in two minds over how to take it, although that possibly could have killed the game for us,” said McNamara.
“He mentioned it when he came off and it was obviously playing on his mind.
“To be honest, though, I thought he was excellent. His play deserved a goal.”
McNamara was also asked about the role of keeper Rado Cierzniak in the build-up to Celtic’s goal, with the Pole’s poor kick-out putting the pressure right back on United.
However, the gaffer rightly highlighted a superb stop from Cierzniak to thwart Anthony Stokes just beforehand as well as his overall fine performance.
McNamara also picked up on a run from Andrew Robertson that took the left-back into the right-wing position before Mulgrew’s equaliser.
“I would never criticise the keeper,” said McNamara. “It is part of learning and he realises it himself. He had a fantastic save from Stokes five minutes before that.
“It shows how far we have come when we are disappointed to go away with a point. But we need to learn to see it through.
“In injury-time our 19-year-old left-back (Robertson) has nearly got down the right-hand side.
“It is enthusiasm. I wouldn’t try to take that side of our game out but sometimes you just see it through and be professional.”