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Hull City escaped relegation from the Premier League despite losing 1-0 at home to champions Manchester United.

Darron Gibson's first-half screamer meant Hull had to rely on Newcastle losing at Aston Villa, which they duly did.

Phil Brown's side retained their top-flight status despite a run of only two wins in 29 matches. Their total of 35 points was the lowest for any team outside the bottom three since West Bromwich Albion in 2004/05, who survived with 34.

Hull's autumn form, which saw them briefly in contention for a Champions League place, proved decisive and their jubilant fans invaded the pitch after the final whistle.

As widely expected, Alex Ferguson rested all of the players who will take part in Wednesday's Champions League final against Barcelona.

While Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney put their feet up at the other end of the M62, the likes of Ritchie de Laet, Danny Welbeck and Lee Martin got a rare run-out.

There was at least some experience at the back with Gary Neville and Wes Brown at centre-back and Rafael da Silva on the right.

It was the home side who made the early running, winning several corners and innumerable throw-ins on the right side, flung into the box by Sam Ricketts.

For all their pressure, Hull failed to force goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak into a meaningful save as United dealt relatively easy with the home side's set-pieces.

Nani, a £15 million arrival at Old Trafford two summers ago, will be disappointed not to be involved in Rome after a desperately poor season.

He did his best to emulate his Portuguese countryman Ronaldo, unleashing a flurry of flicks and pirouettes, not to mention some Ronaldo-esque displays of self-pity after giving the ball away.

The winger got United's first shot on target with a free-kick, but it was left for Gibson to show him how it is done from long range on 24 minutes.

Gibson received a low pass from Federico Macheda, Hull did not close him down and he punished them, lashing a diagonal 30-yarder into the right corner. Goalkeeper Boaz Myhill may feel he should have got to it, but the Irishman's strike was pure and powerful.

Macheda and Welbeck both threatened to double the lead but both shot wide after good approach play.

At the other end Michael Turner headed over while Andy Dawson tested Kuszczak with a rasping long-range effort.

United dominated the second half, with Hull's supporters seemingly resigned to the fact that their best chance of survival was to keep an ear to the radio and hope Newcastle did not score.

The home side's only chances came in quick succession on 53 minutes when Kuszcak blocked a flying Nicky Barmby header, then saved a Turner header from the resultant corner.

Otherwise play belonged to the visitors, although they carved out relatively few clear chances.

One such opportunity fell to Macheda when Martin played him clean through down the left channel, but the Italian blazed his shot over.

The closing stages were surreal as Hull allowed United to knock easy passes around unchallenged.

Why nobody bothered to apply any pressure is a mystery, sunny day or not. The supporters seemed not to notice as they were glued to their transistor radios for news from Villa Park.

In the end it did not matter as Hull's performances over their first nine games proved enough to earn them another season in the top flight.

Alex Chick / Eurosport