Aston Villa's long-expected relegation from the Premier League was finally confirmed with a 1-0 loss away to Manchester United on Saturday as teenage rising star Marcus Rashford scored his seventh goal in 12 games.
The 18-year-old striker, also on target in United's FA Cup quarterfinal replay win over West Ham United in midweek, struck in the 32nd minute when he turned in Antonio Valencia's low cross.
The defeat left bottom-of-the-table Villa 15 points shy of safety with only a maximum of 12 on offer to the Birmingham club in their four remaining league matches this season.
Villa, under the caretaker charge of Eric Black after former manager Remi Garde was sacked last month, have won just three times in 34 league games this campaign and this latest loss saw them drop down to the second-tier of English football for the first time in 29 years.
"It's a mood of disappointment," said Black. "What I will say is today I thought they were outstanding. People in certain places will make sure that Villa will come back, I'm confident of that."
United manager Louis van Gaal criticised his side's display, saying: "I'm not too happy with the performance. We have to finish the games a lot earlier and today we didn't do that."
Saturday's late kick−off then saw City pull four points clear of United and leapfrog Arsenal into third place, with Sergio Aguero scoring a hat−trick in a 3−0 win away to fallen champions Chelsea that came just days after Manuel Pellegrini's men reached the semifinals of the Champions League.
Aguero finished a quick counter−attack to give City a 33rd−minute lead at Stamford Bridge and doubled their advantage early in the second half with another breakaway goal.
A bad day for the Blues got worse when goalkeeper Thibault Courtois was sent off late on for bringing down Fernandinho in the box.
Argentina star Aguero completed his treble from the ensuing 80th−minute penalty.
City manager Pellegrini, who like Hiddink will be replaced at the end of the season, paid tribute to Aguero by saying: "I am sure he is the best striker in the league, he makes a difference playing every game."
Hiddink, whose team remained 10th, added: "It's not for nothing that they (City) are at the top of Europe now... They were sharp and skilful on the counter−attack. We were naive in how we defended."
Earlier, Sunderland gave themselves hope of yet another escape from relegation, with a 3-0 win away to fellow strugglers Norwich City.
Victory at Carrow Road left the north-east side still in the bottom three but just one point adrift of Norwich and with a game in hand over the Canaries.
Fabio Borini's first-half penalty and strikes from Jermain Defoe and Duncan Watmore after the interval saw Sunderland to a first win in seven matches.
The result was an understandable relief for Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce, who told the BBC: "The most pleasing thing of all was the clean sheet, that is our way forward with five games to go.
"I know if we can keep two or three clean sheets in those game we'll be safe because I know we can score."
Newcastle United, Sunderland's north-east rivals, also bolstered their hopes of top-flight survival with a 3-0 win at home to Swansea.
Jamaal Lascelles headed in Andros Townsend's corner four minutes before the break and Moussa Sissoko made the game safe for the Magpies eight minutes from time, as they marked manager Rafael Benitez's 56th birthday in style.
Townsend rounded off the scoring in the 89th minute.
Newcastle remained in the relegation zone but victory saw them move to within three points of Norwich.
"I have to say congratulations to the players," Benitez told the BBC. "They showed passion and commitment."
Watford, promoted last season, cemented their place in the Premier League with a 1-0 win away to West Bromwich Albion, that saw goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes twice save penalties from Saido Berahino.
His first spot-kick stop came in the 66th minute after he had tripped Berahino and Gomes denied the striker again when, after a foul on Stephane Sessegnon, he dived low to his left to push another penalty effort past the post.
Gomes' saves helped Watford maintain a lead established through Ben Watson's 27th-minute goal at the Hawthorns.
Meanwhile, Southampton moved to within a point of a top six place after a 1-1 draw away to Everton.
Ramiro Funes Mori put Everton ahead in the 68th minute but the hosts' lead lasted just eight minutes, with Sadio Mane equalising for the Saints at Goodison Park.
Sunday will see leaders Leicester City looking to go 10 points clear of second-placed Tottenham Hotspur against West Ham, while Arsenal will try to maintain their grip on third place at home to London rivals Crystal Palace.
Liverpool, buoyed by a dramatic come-from-behind Europa League quarterfinal win over manager Jurgen Klopp's former club Borussia Dortmund, are away to Bournemouth.
Tottenham, bidding for a first English title since 1961, travel to Stoke on Monday.
(with agency inputs)