Sunderland saved the best for last as they won a Barclays Premiership game on their own ground for the first time this season - at the final attempt - thanks to a 2-1 victory over Fulham.
After 28 top-flight matches dating back to December 15, 2002, goals from Anthony le Tallec and Chris Brown - his first in the Premiership - either side of half-time saw the Black Cats fend off another unwanted record.
No English side had ever gone a full season without winning a league game on their own pitch, and while the Wearsiders cannot avoid setting a new low points total with a final day trip to Aston Villa to come, the win at least gave the home fans among a crowd of 28,226 something to cheer.
Sunderland had to endure a tense final 14 minutes after Tomasz Radzinski pulled a goal back for the visitors, but for the first time since Liverpool left Wearside empty handed three and a half years ago, three Premiership points were banked by the home side.
There were a depressing number of empty seats in the stadium as the game kicked off, but by half-time, the unfamiliar sound of applause rang out into the Wearside night.
Fulham had not won a single league game away from home until their victory at Manchester City on Saturday - but they had led 1-0 at Sunderland last month before the game was abandoned.
However, despite the quality they boasted in midfield in Steed Malbranque and - until he limped off injured - Luis Boa Morte, it was the Black Cats who posed the greater threat.
Malbranque had volleyed over and Heidar Helguson headed wide before the home side forced their way in front with 32 minutes gone - with the help of two men who have been bit-part players for much of the campaign.
Winger Andy Welsh was in the side after returning from a loan spell at Leicester, and it was his cross which was glanced past goalkeeper Mark Crossley at the near post by on-loan striker le Tallec.
It was the Frenchman's fifth goal of the season in his 30th appearance and put him top of the goalscoring stakes, a graphic illustration of the club's problems this season.
For a change, the boos at the break were reserved for referee Mike Riley, the man who called off the first game, after he booked both Steve Caldwell and George McCartney for fouls but turned a deaf ear to the home crowd's appeals for a series of fouls perpetrated by the visitors.
But their mood was to change within 12 minutes of the restart when, after Simon Elliott, Philippe Christanval and Ian Pearce had all been yellow-carded, the Black Cats increased their lead.
Justin Hoyte had already miskicked in front of goal after full-back Nyron Nosworthy had marauded down the right when the former Gillingham defender set off once again.
Nosworthy let fly from 25 yards with a shot which Crossley could not hold, and Brown followed up to slam the loose ball into the empty net.
But for Pearce's header off the line, Tommy Miller would have made it 3-0 on 68 minutes with the home side for once brimming with confidence.
The mood changed slightly with 14 minutes remaining when Radzinski blasted a left-foot shot past Kelvin Davis, and substitute Collins John might have levelled within two minutes, but he fired into the side-netting from a tight angle.
Davis needed two attempts to cling on to an 85th-minute Wayne Bridge shot with Malbranque closing in, but for once a man who has had to deal with his fair share of criticism this season, enjoyed a little good fortune.
The final whistle sparked relieved celebrations as the red and white faithful headed for home with overdue smiles on their faces.
