The Potters ended 2009/10 one place and two points better off than they finished 2008/9 but couldn't stop Manchester United running away with the final game of the season.
City started well and nearly took the lead after three minutes when Fuller nodded Etherington's cross at goal, but watched as the ball was put behind by the retreating Berbatov after it looped over Van Der Sar. Both Fuller and Etherington tried again shortly after but were denied by tackles from Neville and Vidic respectively, whilst the Jamaican headed a Delap throw narrowly wide and also forced the home keeper into a smart save from 18 yards.
All this whilst, at the other end, Giggs and Nani were denied by brave defending and Berbatov missed a hat trick of chances, missing the target every time.
The hosts did, however, take the lead on 31 minutes, and it involved a fair bit of luck as a corner bounced around the City box, deflecting off three players before falling to an unmarked Fletcher. The midfielder smashed the ball past Begovic from 6 yards and Old Trafford erupted.
The celebrations were dampened almost immediately with news that Chelsea, already 1-0 up at the Bridge, had scored a second and were now well on their way to the league title. That meant that, as the second goal went in at Old Trafford, the crowd weren't exactly up out of their seats with just a mild cheer as Giggs shot from the edge of the box squirmed under Begovic and into the goal.
As the half swept into injury time Huth slid in to deny Rooney at one end whilst, after combining with Etherington at the other end, Fuller curled a shot in from the edge of the box, with Van Der Sar falling to his left to stop the ball.
Stoke continued to push forward after the break and Shawcross forced Van Der Sar into a save, Etherington beat three men down the wing before winning a corner and then the home keeper was on hand to punch away the delivery from Whelan, with City's players lurking.
The game was all over in the 54th minute though, when Rooney found space on the left and lid a ball across the 6-yard box. Higginbotham flew across and slid in to try and clear the danger but only managed to put the ball past Begovic and into the net for an unfortunate own goal.
The game stayed as an open affair as Chelsea carried on netting, only stopping at eight, meaning United were forced to settle for second place long before the final whistle. Scholes, Macheda, Giggs, Nani and Neville all went close for the hosts whilst Sidibe, Fuller and Huth all thought they had grabbed a consolation for the visitors.
City saved their best until last though when, shifted up front to try and open his seasons account, Delap threw himself at a cross but his diving header was somehow clawed away by the keeper, who leapt to his left at full stretch but Van Der Sar then had to dive the other way when Pugh curled a shot towards the top corner from 25 yards.
Giggs tried to make it five late on but Begovic held on and a mainly successful, if controversial 2009/10 was drawn to a close.