Manchester City's Maine Road farewell turned out to be a sombre occasion as Southampton inflicted their eighth home defeat of the season.
Michael Svensson stunned sad City with a matchwinning goal to ruin what they hoped would be a glorious send-off.
The afternoon began with a parade of former City legends and before kick-off the teams were introduced to guest of honour Nora Mercer, widow of former manager Joe, Malcolm Allison and Colin Bell.
And current legend Shaun Goater was named captain for the day on his farewell appearance, with Peter Schmeichel also signing off from City.
But it soon became clear that City's swansong at their home for the last 80 years would not be a vintage display.
None the less City still had enough chances to have won by a comfortable margin.
But resolute defending from Saints, and an inspired goalkeeping display by Paul Jones meant it was a frustrating afternoon for City's supporters.
Jones pulled off four excellent saves in the opening 45 minutes, three times to deny dangerman Nicolas Anelka and the other time to foil Marc-Vivien Foe.
Saints showed how it should be done in front of goal scoring from one of only two chances which were on target in the first 45 minutes.
The deadlock was broken in the 34th minute when Svensson was left unmarked six yards out to head home Matt Oakley's free-kick, which was swung in from the right.
Sadly the second half fizzled out into a damp squib with City clearly disheartened by their earlier misses.
They only created two decent chances in the second period with Jones again foiling them each time.
Anleka was thwarted for a fourth time and late on substitute Robbie Fowler's close-range shot was brilliantly blocked by Jones.