Play-off final moments: Paul Dickov talks Sporting Life through Manchester City's epic win over Gillingham in 1999 at Wembley

"I've never been as confident in my life in taking a penalty," said Dickov as he recalls the shootout drama that decided the 1999 Second Division play-off final against Gillingham.

He missed.

In fact, he not only missed but the ball hit both posts after agonisingly running along the goal line but bouncing back out - if one penalty could some up the extreme highs and colossal lows of the play-offs then it was that one, and the celebrations that followed when City made it through.

Many will remember only City goalkeeper Nicky Weaver's celebrations after his save booked an immediate return to the old First Division at the first time of asking - which came after a season playing under intense pressure as a giant club that had fallen about as low as they could go.

Gills stun City at Wembley

Everyone expected them to bounce right back, but after having to settle for the lottery of the play-offs, Man City found themselves 2-0 down with the final whistle approaching after two Gillingham goals in the 81st and 87th minute.

Amazingly, with 90 minutes on the clock, City were still not beaten as first Kevin Horlock (90) and then Dickov (95) scored to stun the Gills, force extra time and then the ensuing penalties that arguably decided both City's short-term feat and long-term rise through the ranks.

"I’d been practising penalties in training and nobody could get near them, so to see it hit both posts and come out was devastating," Dickov told Sporting Life.