Ross County suffered relegation to the Championship in agonising circumstances as St Johnstone netted in stoppage time to ensure a 1-1 draw.
County already looked to be down and out as Partick Thistle, who they needed to fail to defeat Dundee at Dens Park, had already gone 1-0 up through Kris Doolan’s strike.
David Wotherspoon’s late goal rubbed salt into the Staggies’ wounds however, cancelling out Craig Curran’s early opener to kill off County’s hopes of securing a relegation play-off spot.
The result ends County’s six-year stay in the top-flight, meaning they will join Highland rivals Caley Thistle in the Championship next term.
County made two changes from the side that lost 1-0 against Dundee in midweek, with Craig Curran and Mattias Kait coming in to replace Davis Keillor-Dunn and Alex Schalk.
The Staggies knew only three points would be enough irrespective of what happened at Dens Park, and they made the dream start by taking the lead after just three minutes. Jason Naismith’s low driven delivery deflecting into the path of Curran, who knocked the ball past Alan Mannus from close range.
County were dealt a blow on 14 minutes when skipper Andrew Davies hobbled off after landing heavily at a set-piece, with Harry Souttar coming on to replace him.
The visitors continued to look menacing though, with Michael Gardyne seeing a curling left-footed shot gathered by Mannus.
Saints offered glimpses of threat, with Scott Tanser curling an effort on to the roof of the net from just inside the box.
The Staggies were inches from a second goal just after the half-hour mark when Kait was presented with an opportunity after mis-hitting his initial effort, with the Estonian midfielder rattling the underside of the crossbar.
Curran came close to doubling his tally on the stroke of half time with a lofted effort from the edge of the box which Mannus did well to scramble over the bar.
County continued to pose threat early in the second half, with Jamie Lindsay unable to get a touch on Naismith’s cross to direct the ball home, before the on-loan Celtic player saw a low free kick comfortably gathered by Mannus.
County’s support was silenced as news filtered through of Partick’s opener on 63 minutes, however the Highlanders continued to pursue a second goal, with Curran dispossessing Jason Kerr before lashing his shot into the side-netting.
County goalkeeper Scott Fox was called into action for the first time on 89 minutes to block David Wotherspoon’s effort, however there was nothing he could do to stop Wotherspoon’s stoppage time strike which ultimately sealed County’s fate.
