Ten man United ended their season with a dour goalless stalemate at the KC Stadium to relegate Steve Bruce's Hull.
The hosts had needed to win to give themselves any hope of last day survival, but Newcastle's
2-0 victory over West Ham took the issue out of their own hands, condemning Hull to demotion no matter the result here.
In a poor game low on any real excitement, the Tigers had the best of the intermittent chances but could not find a way through and slipped into the Championship after two seasons in the top flight.
For the Reds, for whom Marouane Fellaini was sent off for a reckless lunge on former United man Paul McShane, this result merely rubber-stamped fourth position, six points ahead of fifth placed Spurs.
Wayne Rooney skimmed the bar with an early sighter for United, but, understandably given the circumstances, it was the hosts that started with the greater urgency.
A flurry of activity around the visitors goal midway through the opening half brought both hope and frustration for Hull.
McShane and Dame N'Doye had the ball in the net in quick succession within a couple of minutes of each other but both were ruled out for offside.
Ahmed Elmohamady then got on the end of Robbie Brady's corner and steered his header goalwards, but Victor Valdes, on his full debut, reacted superbly to push the ball round the post.
David Meyler turned a Nikica Jelavic header wide from eight yards and Rooney went close with a free-kick, before news filtered through of Newcastle's opening goal at St James Park.
Hull continued to press and Valdes saved well from Sone Aluko, before Fellaini was dismissed for leaving his foot in on McShane just 18 minutes after coming on.
That proved to be the last meaningful action of a disappointing game with Hull down and United looking ahead to next season.
United Faithful Man of the Match: Chris Smalling. Solid and composed throughout.
Overall team performance: 7/10
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