Matty Fryatt's superb strike was not enough for Hull City as they fell to a 3-1 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Fryatt's terrific second-half goal came sandwiched between a double for young debutant James Wilson and a late goal for Robin Van Persie.
The result keeps City 15th in the Premier League table heading into their final game of the season at home to Everton.
With the FA Cup final in mind, City manager Steve Bruce made five changes, handing Eldin Jakupovic a first Premier League start.
Alex Bruce, George Boyd, Robert Koren and Stephen Quinn also came into the starting XI with Steve Harper, Jake Livermore, Tom Huddlestone, James Chester and Nikica Jelavic dropping out.
United manager Ryan Giggs resisted the opportunity to start himself in what is widely expected to be his last match as a player at Old Trafford, instead coming on as a late substitute to a terrific reception.
Giggs, who left out several star names, turned to young strike duo Tom Lawrence and Wilson, who made their debuts.
The hosts started the brighter and could have had a penalty inside five minutes after Adnan Januzaj burst past Maynor Figueroa and was then brought down by the full-back. Referee Craig Pawson waved the protests away to the relief of the Tigers.
There was no mistake about United's opener on the half hour, however. Marouane Fellaini got the better of Curtis Davies and headed down for Wilson to pounce for his first senior goal.
It proved to be the only moment of any note in a flat first half. Having not registered a single shot in the opening 45 minutes, Bruce made two changes at the break with Fryatt and Yannick Sagbo replacing Liam Rosenior and Shane Long.
Freshening his side up made little difference to the pattern of play as City continued to look flat and the hosts continued to press, getting their reward on 60 minutes as Wilson again did the damage after Jakupovic initially kept out Fellaini.
City's response was immediate. Doing his chances of earning a place in the cup final team no harm, Fryatt went past two defenders before smashing the ball into the back of the net from distance.
The game finally came to life as City began to press, sniffing an opportunity to take at least a point from the game.
David Meyler saw an opportunity parried away, but for all their increased effort it was as close as City got to another goal with United closing out victory late on through Van Persie.
