A much-changed St Johnstone team ended their league campaign with defeat against Hibernian.
Perth boss Callum Davidson clearly had one eye on Friday night’s Premiership play-off opener up in Inverness.
But he would still be disappointed to watch his side concede four, without response, at Easter Road on Sunday.
Paul McGinn opened the scoring towards the end of the first half before James Scott netted a hat-trick after the break.
For Saints, they started relatively well and popped the ball around nicely but drifted away as the game progressed.
Elliott Parish started between the posts - Zander Clark was rested - while big Irish centre-half John Mahon was handed a first start for the club.
He was tasked with patrolling the backline alongside Dan Cleary and Jamie McCart, the latter captaining the side. In the wing-back roles were Shaun Rooney (right) and Tom Sang (left).
There was a rare go from the first whistle for Charlie Gilmour in the middle of the park, teaming-up with Jacob Butterfield and Cammy MacPherson.
And in the forward department, Nadir Ciftci and Glenn Middleton were given the nod. Unfortunately, Canadian striker Theo Bair missed out with injury.
Middleton had the best chance of the early stages when, on 16 minutes, Ciftci slipped the ball into his path towards the edge of the box. A quick touch and powerful hit followed, but goalkeeper Matt Macey palmed away.
Soon a quick corner routine presented MacPherson with a sight of goal from a promising position. His strike was turned behind by a home defender.
Hibs did threaten as the half hour mark approached thanks to a terrific left-footed cross from Joe Newell. Creeping in at the back post was Josh Doig but he could only divert wide of Parish’s post.
As the half-time whistle approached, suddenly a Perth break and Rooney was driving deep into opposition territory with only Lewis Stevenson to surge beyond. Stevenson, isolated, defended very well to kill the attack.
That looked to be that for the break but on 44 minutes Hibs seized the upper hand when McGinn turned home from close range following a corner. It fell under the ‘scrappy’ category.
And so did the second, which arrived in the 48th minute. This time a McGinn cross was nudged over the line by Scott, although the striker didn’t appear to know too much about it.
Middleton attempted to respond with a long-range free-kick but his effort was always drifting the wrong side of the crossbar.
Michael O’Halloran entered the action before the hour mark, replacing Mahon, which saw Rooney tuck into a more central defensive role.
But Perth defenders could only watch in the 61st minute when Newell’s cross was finished by Scott for his second of the afternoon and Hibs’ third.
More Saints subs would follow with Rooney and Butterfield departing for Liam Gordon and Liam Craig.
There was a late fourth for the hosts. Scott completed his hat-trick with a looping header that appeared to enter the net in slow motion.
All eyes now turn to the Highlands on Friday night.
