A win against Hamilton today would have finished them off, while a draw would have had almost the same effect. So what do we do? Yup, lose. Losing Hugh Murray early on didn't help, but having Jure Travner correctly sent off midway through the first half was a huge blow from which we never really recovered. That we held out until 15 minutes from the end was perhaps the only surprise.
Things weren't right from the start. We've shown before we cannot play Murray, Steven Thomson and Jim Goodwin together in a home game - yet that's what happened, with Kenny McLean dropping to the bench for the returning Michael Higdon. Not that he was there for long as Shuggy left on a stretcher just three minutes after breaking Tony Fitzpatrick's all time Saints appearance record, coming off worst in a challenge he made.
Despite that, we seemed to start reasonably brightly, Hamilton's David Buchanan almost scoring an own goal before Higdon wasted a chance when he should have passed. However, the game was up midway through the first half when Travner - already on a booking - cynically hacked down Dougie Imrie and was promptly sent off by ref Craig Thomson.
David Barron was sent to warm up as Danny Lennon contemplated a reshuffle, but it didn't arrive until half-time. By then, we should have been behind, only for Nigel Hasselbaink to miss a sitter at the back post thanks to a superb Paul Gallacher save.
Craig Dargo was withdrawn at the break to be replaced by John Potter in a back three, which was quickly changed as Hamilton introduced Mickael Antoine Curier and went to a front three. By then, they too should have been down to 10 men when Alex Neil - already on a yellow card - inexplicably escaped a second caution for a shocking challenge.
We were being pushed deeper and deeper but still carved out two decent chances, Steven Thomson seeing a shot turned away by Tomas Cerny before Higdon sent McLean through, only for the youngster to shoot wide with his wrong foot.
We were eventually made to pay 15 minutes from time when David van Zanten was caught sleeping at a throw in and when Imrie crossed, Antoine Curier headed in the game's only goal.
The dismissal of Neil soon after should have sparked a cavalry charge, but we didn't make the pressure count, meaning the gap is now just six points with three games left.
Squeaky bum time doesn't quite cover it...
Follow Mirren Mad on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mirren-Mad/177833938918587
Follow Mirren Mad on Twitter @mirren_mad or http://www.twitter.com/mirren_mad