Prior to Sergio Aguero's heroics in 2012, the most disappointing end to a campaign for Manchester United during Sir Alex Ferguson's tenure probably came back in 1995.
Having won a Premier League and FA Cup double during the 1993-94 season, Ferguson's men headed into the following term in positive mood.
However, they lost the league title to Blackburn Rovers - a battle that went down to the final day. Rovers actually lost to Liverpool at Anfield, which meant that a win away at West Ham United would see the Red Devils lift the trophy for a third consecutive season.
With the score at Upton Park level at one goal apiece, the visitors laid siege to the West Ham goal in the last 20 minutes, but they were unable to find a way past Hammers goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko for a second time, meaning that the title went to the Alan Shearer-inspired Rovers.
The final of that season's FA Cup - played 20 years ago today - offered some immediate solace for United, with Everton their opponents at Wembley.
The Toffees had spent much of the season battling against relegation, with their first victory not being recorded until November 1.
Nevertheless, despite being the favourites, United were without the suspended Eric Cantona, the cup-tied Andy Cole and the injured Andrei Kanchelskis. Between them, the trio had scored 41 goals over the course of the season. As for Ryan Giggs, he had only just recovered from a hamstring complaint and was only deemed fit enough for a place on the bench.
It was United that started the brighter of the two sides, but they were unable to capitalise on their domination, with Lee Sharpe in particular guilty of spurning two good chances.
In the 30th minute, the Premier League runners-up were made to pay. Paul Ince lost possession on the edge of the Everton box and the Merseysiders broke with speed, so much so that they outnumbered the United defence.
It seemed that the opportunity had gone when Graham Stuart swept his shot against the crossbar, but the ball fell for Paul Rideout, who was able squeeze his header beyond the reach of both Peter Schmeichel and United skipper Steve Bruce on the line.
At the break, Giggs was introduced at the expense of Bruce and it seemed that the Welsh winger had taken it upon himself to get United back into the contest.
He caused a whole host of problems to the Everton rearguard, but just like Miklosko a week earlier, United came up against a goalkeeper in fine form.
Veteran Neville Southall thwarted Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes on two separate occasions, while Brian McClair saw his headed effort hit the crossbar.
United's final roll of the dice was to throw Schmeichel forward for set pieces, but the Dane was unable to make an impact as Everton held out to win a first major trophy in eight years.
Reflecting on the game many years later with BBC Sport, United centre-back Gary Pallister recalled: "Losing the league like we did is bound to have an effect on you and the club was a despondent place to be for the few days after the final game of the season.
"The manager tried to lift the players and the players themselves tried to be positive about the FA Cup final and make sure we didn't end the season without anything but Everton raised their game, we didn't match it and on the day they probably deserved to win."
Everton: Southall; Jackson, Watson, Unsworth, Ablett; Limpar (Amokachi), Parkinson, Horne, Hinchcliffe, Stuart; Rideout (Ferguson)
Man United: Schmeichel; Neville, Bruce (Giggs), Pallister, Irwin; Ince, Keane, Butt, Sharpe (Scholes), McClair; Hughes
