Last, in spite of expectations (5,3)
I believe the answer is:
after all
This clue is a double definition.
'last' is the first definition.
(coming after everyone else)
'in spite of expectations' is the second definition.
(I've seen this before)
(Other definitions for after all that I've seen before include "in spite of expectations to the contrary" , "Bringing up the rear" , "anyway" , "at the end of the day" , "I mean, when everything's said and done" .)