St Johnstone's 16-year stay in the Scottish Premiership has ended after Ross County's stoppage-time equaliser in Dundee - coupled with a frenetic Tynecastle defeat - consigned Simo Valakari's team to relegation.

On a dramatic and ultimately calamitous night, the Perth side were facing the drop - trailing 2-0 while County and Dundee were level - then back in the fight when Dundee edged ahead.

However, just when it looked like it would go to Sunday's final games, Ronan Hale's stoppage-time penalty left St Johnstone four points adrift with a solitary fixture remaining.

Valakari's side, who have occupied bottom spot since 22 December, fell behind after 17 minutes to a slapstick Barry Douglas own goal, the defender awkwardly prodding a Harry Milne cross into his own net.

Alan Forrest doubled Hearts' lead with a scampering run and predatory finish before the interval, having been teed up by Lawrence Shankland.

Graham Carey's terrific free-kick dragged St Johnstone back into the contest, but they could not fashion an equaliser to deny Hearts a third straight victory.

Until Carey's rocket, St Johnstone looked to be sinking without a trace.

Josh McPake had squandered two chances on the break, but Hearts looked the more threatening, Yan Dhanda striking the bar with a free-kick and Shankland unleashing a drive from just inside the St Johnstone half, which dipped wide.

St Johnstone play with laudable ambition under Valakari, and Carey's stunner, coupled with the magnitude of the night, imbued them with fresh confidence.

Stephen Duke-McKenna zipped a fabulous cross from the right which Taylor Steven lunged at but missed, then struck the side netting from an acute angle.

In the dying throes, they seared downfield in search of a leveller, and a seminal point in the relegation tussle. None came.

Valakari and his players were shaking hands at full-time, blissfully unaware of the events unfolding in Dundee.

They had trooped up the tunnel before Hale struck. Gone from the field, and the division.

Should, as is widely expected, Derek McInnes take up the managerial mantle in Gorgie, talks with Shankland will be high on his agenda.

The club have reportedly opened discussions with the out-of-contract striker already, and McInnes is likely to see the man he signed and released at Aberdeen as his attacking fulcrum.

Shankland has endured a barren season, deployed at the tip of a diamond rather than in a striking position, but his form since Neil Critchley's dismissal has been mightily encouraging.

Though he did not burnish his tally of five goals in three games, he laced another impressive outing with flourishes of class, his confidence restored and mojo rediscovered.

His sweet touch put Forrest through for Hearts' second and the sight of Shankland unleashing a 50-yard drive with predatory intent brought Tynecastle to its feet.

Valakari's Saints have waged their war against relegation with laudable intent, but on too many occasions, their flakiness in defence has given them mountains to climb.

Hearts split them open twice for their goals, Douglas spooked by Shankland lurking in his blind spot, and the untracked Forrest skipping beyond tacklers to net.

St Johnstone's ambitious, possession-based blueprint has not been underpinned by accuracy, and while they went after Hearts towards the end, clear-cut chances were scant.

This club has achieved greatness during its Premiership tenure - the European adventures, the domestic giant-slayings, 2014 Scottish Cup glory and of course, the staggering double of 2021 - but alas, traumatic and brutal as the axe falling was, this day has been a long time coming.

Hearts interim head coach Liam Fox: "Overall, I'm really, really pleased. We're delighted with the win.

"First half, some of the football we played was really good. Second half we had to show a different side to the team, we had to really dig deep and defend and the players worked really hard."

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari: "It was not good enough for a long time because the table doesn't lie. It really, really hurts.

"We are crying tonight and tomorrow but always looking forward. This season is history. We need to change things and get this beautiful club back to winning ways."