Ferguson, who before Robson left Manchester United spent hours lecturing him in management and allowing his then-captain to help with tactics and planning, spent as long saying how good Middlesbrough had been as he did singing the praises of his own side.
He may or may not have succeeded in convincing those who doubt Robson that he is suffering from the vagaries of fate rather than an innate inability to get the best out of his squad, but his first PR exercise of the day was a resounding success.
For the wily Old Trafford manager, who will miss Saturday's Manchester derby to attend the wedding in Cape Town of son Mark, seemed to select his formation to ensure that Roy Keane could exhibit the macho, charging runs that enthral even those whom the United captain claims spend more time contemplating their prawn sandwiches than the entertainment on the pitch. Ferguson's flexible five- man midfield employed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Paul Scholes in deep roles to give Keane more freedom, while Dwight Yorke was the one player used as an out-and-out striker.
After his ridiculing of Old Trafford's silent support, almost certainly at the behest of his manager and colleagues, Keane was given every chance to get into the fans' good books.
Keane played the role to perfection. Having been assured by the repeated, vociferous backing of most of the United faithful, he continually made well-timed, supercharged incursions deep into Middlesbrough territory.
And he had the crowd eating out of his hands.
Nicky Butt, from close range, then substitute Teddy Sheringham, with his 13th goal of the season, were the second-half scorers as Middlesbrough, given the lead by Christian Karembeu's brilliantly-taken effort, were finally worn down.
But it was Keane who was universally considered the man of the match and who left the pitch to more high decibel support.
Such adoration was once the right of Robson, who invented that cavalier cameo. He has exchanged that for the pressure of proving that he can be as successful from the sidelines as he was as United's Captain Fantastic. Middlesbrough's next two fixture - successive home games against Leicester and Bradford - are likely to dictate whether or not he allows himself the opportunity to keep working on the challenge.
He said: 'The injury to Ugo Ehiogu three minutes into his debut after we bought him for £8million sums up our season. But he is likely to be ready, along with others like Paul Ince, next week.
'The point of being Middlesbrough manager is to try to ensure that we become a top six side and I have been happy with the progress we have made.
'I am clearly not happy with our current position or that we appear to be going backwards. But I believe I have the best squad since taking the job and, while we lost to United and Arsenal, we have given our fans heart by showing heart ourselves.
'I have never considered quitting and would not do so unless I felt we could not start going forward again. But I truly believe we will and all I ask is that I am judged when I have my whole squad to pick from.'
