Kilmarnock fans turned their ire on Tynecastle-bound manager Derek McInnes as they fell to a 3-0 defeat against Motherwell.
McInnes had revealed Hearts and Kilmarnock had agreed a deal for him to move to Edinburgh on the eve of the trip to Fir Park, with his switch expected to be confirmed early next week.
The away fans were not particularly audible from the top tier of the Tommy McLean Stand but it would have been clear to McInnes that they viewed his impending move with disdain.
Cries of “Hearts are falling apart again” were among the kinder chants and there were other, more personal ones which encouraged McInnes to expedite his move.
Motherwell eventually made their numerical superiority count after Robbie Deas’ first-half red card with a goal flurry in the final 13 minutes.
Luke Armstrong netted either side of Callum Slattery’s strike as Motherwell secured three points which consigned Killie to a ninth-placed finish in the William Hill Premiership.
The Steelmen go into Sunday’s final day a point behind Hearts, who travel to Rugby Park in what could be a highly awkward afternoon for McInnes.
Motherwell manager Michael Wimmer handed Ewan Wilson his first start since his first game in charge in February while Tawanda Maswanhise made way for Harry Paton.
Killie started the brighter team. Liam Donnelly twice saw efforts deflected wide and both Danny Armstrong and Bruce Anderson had half chances.
Tom Sparrow headed wide at the other end before the game turned in the 29th minute when Deas brought Lennon Miller down on the edge of the box as the midfielder ran through on goal.
It looked a clear goalscoring opportunity and referee Duncan Nicolson, making his Premiership debut, eventually agreed after looking at his VAR monitor having initially shown a yellow card.
Miller’s free-kick was comfortably saved and Danny Armstrong came closer from a set-piece which Aston Oxborough touched on to the bar.
Motherwell created far more chances after the break, during which Paton made way for Luke Armstrong.
Kieran O’Hara saved Tony Watt’s header and a Slattery shot before Andy Halliday missed the target.
Wimmer also brought on Moses Ebiye up front and both he and Armstrong were denied before Sparrow shot just wide.
The breakthrough came when Stephen O’Donnell delivered an inviting cross which Armstrong headed home from six yards.
Slattery curled just inside the post six minutes later after a swift exchange of passes just outside the box.
And Armstrong netted his second within three minutes as he let fly from 20 yards after brilliant skill from Miller.
The 18-year-old was immediately substituted to allow the Motherwell fans to give him a standing ovation on what could well be his final appearance at Fir Park amid serious and widespread transfer interest.
McInnes did not join his players as they went to show their appreciation to the remaining visiting fans at full-time.
