Hearts spoiled the party with a 2-1 win in Paisley but events at Easter Road ensured the result was immaterial as St Mirren claimed a top six finish for the second successive season.
Jorge Grant’s first-half penalty and a scrambled Mikael Mandron own goal from Alex Cochrane’s corner had put Hearts in the driving seat.
Toyosi Olusanya pulled one back for to pull St Mirren back into the game but parity eluded them. With St Johnstone beating Hibs at Easter Road it means that the result was immaterial as the Paisley side’s hard work over the course of the campaign paid off.
The target not for Stephen Robinson’s side will be to fight for a European spot.
For Hearts, this was a tenth away win of the season – compared with just three last season – with Steven Naismith insisting that his players are fighting to stay in the team with a Scottish Cup semi-final date against Rangers looming.
There was no Lawrence Shankland for Hearts with the Scotland striker suffering from a stomach bug.
With Storm Kathleen making life awkward for both teams, there was little of real note in an attacking sense for either team in the opening exchanges.
It was Hearts who drew first blood when Kenneth Vargas’ shot was blocked by Saints skipper Marcus Fraser who slid in to make the block with VAR ruling that the ball had come off his arm in the process.
Referee Alan Muir duly trotted along to the monitor to take a look before pointing to the spot. Grant rifled his effort straight down the middle of the goal to give Hearts the lead.
St Mirren made changes at the break as they looked to force their way back into the game with Keanu Baccus and Conor McMenamin introduced as Kwon and Elvis Bwonomo made way.
It was Hearts, though, who almost claimed the second of the afternoon when Vargas dragged an effort wide of the post from the edge of the box.
It seemed to jolt St Mirren into life with the hosts enjoying a bit of pressure. Olusanya forced a decent one-handed save from Zander Clark before Hearts doubled their lead.
Alex Cochrane’s corner led to a scramble on the goal-line Mandron forcing the ball into his own-net.
To their credit, Saints stuck to their task with Olusanya pulling one back.
It was a cracking goal as he latched onto a cleared Hearts corner and ran from deep inside his own half and carried the ball all the way to the opposite end of the pitch before slotting low past the exposed Clark.
Vargas ought to have had Hearts breathing easier when he scorned a glorious chance after going straight through on Zach Hemming but sclaffed his effort straight at the keeper.
Saints were incensed that there was no penalty after a lengthy check at the monitor by Muir who judged that Aidan Denholm’s challenge on McMenamin did not warrant a spot-kick.
It irked the hosts but their grumbles turned to cheers as news emerged from Leith.
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