St Mirren secured a second successive top-six finish despite being beaten by Hearts at a packed and windy SMiSA Stadium.
Storm Kathleen made her presence felt from the word go and both sides were almost blown away in the first half. However, the Jambos led at the break thanks to Jorge Grant's penalty, which came after ref Alan Muir and VAR decided Marcus Fraser had blocked Kenneth Vargas' shot with his arm.
The visitors doubled their lead in bizarre circumstances after the break, Alex Cochrane's corner bouncing about the six-yard box before trundling over the line. Toyosi Olusanya then halved the deficit as he finished his lung-bursting run from the half way line with a composed finish.
Saints thought they would then get the chance to equalise from the spot when Conor McMenamin went down inside the box, however nothing was given despite a lengthy VAR check. However, before full-time news came through that both Hibs and Dundee had lost, meaning the Buddies are sure of their place in the top six regardless of what happens in the final week before the split.
After the teams entered the field to a tremendous reception from the home fans, there was little to get excited about as the fierce wind took its toll. Cammy Devlin shot well wide in the first minute but that was your lot for the first half hour until Kenneth Vargas saw his shot deflected wide off of Fraser. As the players got ready for the corner, the dread words “VAR check” were announced over the tannoy. Ref Alan Muir checked the monitor and decided it had hit Fraser's arm before pointing for a penalty that Jorge Grant was more than happy to fire home.
Fraser tried to make amends with a shot that was deflected away from goal and keeper Zander Clark eventually gathered. Saints looked a bit brighter after going behind but still hadn't created a chance as the half came to a close, which might explain why Stephen Robinson made two changes at the break with Keanu Baccus and McMenamin coming on for Kwon and Bwomono. At the same time, Hearts replaced Stephen Kingsley with Tony Sibbick.
The Jambos could have doubled their advantage within seconds of the restart as the Buddies found themselves caught short at the back, Devlin and Vargas trying their best to exploit the opening before the latter dragged his shot wide. The forward shot wide again after getting the better of the Buddies defence before Saints finally produced a chance of note as the hour mark approached, Olusanya's shot taking a deflection that seemed to have sent it on its way to the bottom corner before Clark produced a great save to keep it out.
Any momentum Saints were building was soon snuffed out. Alex Cochrane's corner was parried out by Zach Hemming, the ball ricocheting off another player before trickling into the net. It was hard to tell who got the final touch but the Hearts fans behind the goal didn't care as they celebrated their side doubling their lead.
Jonah Ayunga and Mark O'Hara were brought on for Mikael Mandron and Greg Kiltie as the Buddies desperately tried to salvage something from the afternoon. They nearly gave themselves some hope almost immediately as Richard Taylor got on the end of a corner but his header went wide. Alan Forrest then saw his shot blocked for a corner as Hearts looked to kill off any hope, but from the set-piece Saints broke, Olusanya outmuscling Dexter Lembikisa at the halfway line and charging forward before calmly slotting past Clark.
Toyosi Olusanya celebrates after a terrific solo goal (Image: Allan Picken)
The Buddies now sniffed a point but nearly undid their good work when Alex Gogic was disposed by Devlin and he burst into the box, but some frantic defending kept out the combined efforts of him and Vargas at the expense of a corner. Taylor was replaced by James Scott before Saints were screaming for a penalty when McMenamin went down inside the box, Mr Muir unmoved. He was then advised by VAR to have a look at the monitor but, despite a lengthy check, stuck with his original decision.
That was to prove Saints' last real chance of the game but results elsewhere ensured the fans were still in a good mood come full-time, results elsewhere ensuring top six football for the second year running – and with a game to spare into the bargain.
Full-Time: St Mirren 1-2 Hearts
Report by Stuart Gillespie
St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor (Scott 79), Bwomono (McMenamin 46), Kwon (Baccus 46), Boyd-Munce, Tanser, Olusanya, Mandron (Ayunga 64), Kiltie (O'Hara 64)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Bolton, Dunne, Brown
Hearts: Clark, Rowles, Kent, Kingsley (Sibbick 46), Cochrane, Tait (Denholm 59), Devlin, Grant (Fraser 86), Lembikisa (Atkinson 73), Vargas, Forrest (McKay 73)
Subs Not Used: Gordon, Oda, Tagawa, Wilson
Referee: Alan Muir
Assistant Referee: David Roome
Assistant Referee: Drew Kirkland
Fourth Official: Nick Walsh
VAR: Andrew Dallas
Attendance: 7,740
