Southampton finally rid themselves of the spectre of being crowned the joint worst team in Premier League history after somehow holding Manchester City to a goalless draw.
Rock-bottom and already relegated, Saints battled to secure their 12th point of a sorry season which eased them past Derby's record low tally of 11 in 2007/08.
This may have been one of the most one-sided 0-0 draws in Premier League history, with City having 72% possession, 26 shots to Southampton’s two and 68 touches in the Saints box compared to just seven for the hosts.
This was far from a dead-rubber for City, who are still not assured of a Champions League spot yet could have moved level with second-placed Arsenal with a win.
Saints almost gifted them an early own goal when Jan Bednarek hit a clearance straight into the backside of team-mate Flynn Downes with the ball rolling just wide.
De Bruyne has always enjoyed playing Saints having registered four goals and 10 assists against them, and the Belgian had a chance to add to his tally after he was dragged back by Lesley Ugochukwu, only to curl the free-kick just over.
As the first half drew to a close Bernardo Silva saw a shot deflected wide with Manuel Akanji heading over from the corner.
It was more of the same after the break with Saints getting bodies in the way to repel shots from Silva, Foden and Mateo Kovacic.
Erling Haaland, back after missing seven matches through injury in a bid to prove his fitness for the FA Cup final, just failed to get his foot to a Foden free-kick, catching home goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale instead, and Jack Stephens cleared Silva’s scuffed shot from underneath the crossbar.
But Southampton, suddenly fancying their chances of a third win this season, burst forward out of nowhere and substitute Cameron Archer laid the ball off to Mateus Fernandes, whose shot was blocked by Ruben Dias.
A groan went around St Mary’s as an agonising seven minutes of stoppage time was announced, and moments later City substitute Omar Marmoush rifled a shot against the crossbar before, eventually, the sheer relief of the final whistle engulfed the ground.
Ollie Watkins became Aston Villa's outright record Premier League goalscorer as his side boosted their hopes of Champions League qualification by denting Bournemouth's European push with a 1-0 win.
The England forward touched home Morgan Rogers' cross deep into first-half added time to move on to 75 top-flight strikes for Villa - one more than Gabriel Agbonlahor.
The visitors survived playing a man down for the final 10 minutes at the Vitality Stadium after Jacob Ramsey was sent off for a second bookable offence.
A seventh victory in eight league games moved Unai Emery's men above Nottingham Forest into sixth spot - level on 63 points with fourth-placed Newcastle and Chelsea in fifth.
Brighton kept themselves in the race for European qualification after a 2-0 win at Wolves.
Danny Welbeck's first-half penalty and Brajan Gruda’s late strike did the job for the Seagulls at Molineux as they chase a return to continental action following their run to the Europa League last 16 last season.
Welbeck’s goal was a landmark 10th of the campaign in the Premier League, meaning he has now hit double figures for the first time in his career.
The victory moves Brighton up to ninth below Brentford on goal difference, ahead of Bournemouth’s clash with Aston Villa on Saturday night.
Eighth position could earn Europa Conference League action next season if Manchester City beat Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final next weekend.
Brentford's bid for a first-ever European qualification gained strength as they beat Ipswich 1-0 at Portman Road to make it four Premier League wins in a row.
Kevin Schade headed the game’s only goal from a corner in the 18th minute to give his side a lead, which only a late Ipswich rally during which Omari Hutchinson hit a post and Mark Flekken produced an outstanding save to deny Cameron Burgess, they rarely looked like relinquishing.
The form of Thomas Frank’s side, together with favourable remaining fixtures as well as defeat for rivals Fulham, leaves the chance of an eighth-place finish and with it a possible spot in the Conference League tantalisingly within reach.
The four-team tussle for eighth may yet go to the final day by which time the number of European places via the league, which hinges on the outcome of the FA Cup final, will be known.
Everton scored two goals in three minutes to dent Fulham's European qualification hopes with a 3-1 win at Craven Cottage.
Raul Jimenez opened the scoring for the Cottagers but they failed to capitalise on their lead and Vitalii Mykolenko levelled in first-half stoppage time.
Michael Keane’s header put Everton in front and a mistake from Bernd Leno allowed Beto to add a quickfire third on a day where Brighton and Brentford, who are battling with Fulham for Conference League places, both took three points.
Victory for David Moyes’ men was their first since beating Nottingham Forest 1-0 on April 12.
