Initial fears were confirmed inside the first few seconds. Someone overhit a passback to Chris Smith, who then duffed his kick out. A St. Johnstone player took advantage of the loose ball and hit at a shot at goal that Smith just managed to get across to save. More dodgy kicks would come in the following minutes.
The night could all have been so different if Maxwell's header from Mark Corcoran's header had been that bit lower. Instead, that was as good as it got. A few minutes later, no one was marking Rocco Quinn at the back post and his fantastic placed volley gave Smith no chance.
So, would we start pushing on? Would we start injecting a bit of pace in our play and start zipping the ball about the way St. Johnstone were doing, the same way so many teams have been allowed to at Love Street this season? Would we hell. It was either pass it back to Smith to hammer up the pitch, which might, if it was lucky, go in the vauge direction of one of our players, or waste time passing the ball across the pitch and back again. And then hump it.
St. Johnstone's second should have surprised no one. Peter MacDonald appropriately sold Millen a dummy and Andy Jackson brilliantly curled the ball past Smith. As good as game over.
No change for the Buddies, either in playing style or personnel. Millen should have been off as his performance was affecting the rest of the team. Instead, he was allowed to stay on and was responsible for the third as Peter MacDonald was allowed to effectively beat him and another defender three times - and lose control twice - before another curling shot beat Smith for 3-0 inside half an hour.
If it was a boxing match it would have been stopped there and then. Sadly, it wasn't. The team were booed off and there were looks of disbelief when Millen returned for the second half. There was a change - Stewart Kean replacing David Barron, and god knows what hooking him will have done to his confidence.
So bad were St. Mirren that the fans barely noticed arch villain Alan Main in the opposing goal until he saved an effort from Billy Mehmet. Soon after, the Saintees should have wrapped it up. One of their players was flattened by Gary Mason and, with the lights coming on on the phones and cameras of the St. Johnstone fans behind the goal as they got ready to take a glorious picture, Paul Sheerin stepped up for the spot kick. And missed. Typical - a penalty save comes when it doesn't matter.
Millen was eventually hooked to ironic cheers, replaced by Stephen McGinn, but the words "horse", "stable", "bolted" and "door" came to mind. he must never, ever be allowed to play for the first team again. He may be fit and a model professional, but he is finished as a footballer at this level.
Miranda eventually came on for Mark Corcoran as St. Mirren did the usual of lots of possession but no cutting edge. The humping the ball and passing it about remained, while Smith's kicking was still dodgy. Then, a lifeline. Sheerin completed his miserable night by handling inside his box and we were given our first penalty of the season at a time it meant sod all. Mehmet converted to provide a glimmer of hope.
Miranda curled a freekick over the goal while Maxwell hit the top of the bar with a header, but it would have made little difference. Getting another goal to make it look close would have been daylight robbery, let alone an equaliser.
Full credit to St. Johnstone. They took the game to us, were first - and often second - to every ball and played with a fantastic tempo, passing the ball around the park. We were utter mince. A distinct lack of ideas after going a goal down and the game plan stayed the same. So negative, no urgency - almost hoping to catch the visitors on the break. No fight, no pride, a disgrace considering a trip to Hampden was at stake. Perhaps even more worringly, the lessons hadn't been learned from the first game in Perth.
A lot of players need to have a good look at themselves, although - worringly - most have contracts for next season. Big changes are needed in several areas for next season and MacPherson has to do it. Problems have existed for months, even years, that haven't been successfully addressed in transfer windows.
It's not time to call for the manager to be sacked, but if he doesn't get things sorted and start making some changes - in tactics, style of play, personnel and various other areas - then god knows what will happen next season.
Last night as good as spelled the end of our season. The preparation for next term starts now. Get it sorted Gus!