Last updated on .From the section Scottish Premiership

Hearts have slipped four points adrift at the bottom of the Scottish Premiership after a crushing 1-0 defeat at relegation rivals St Mirren.

Daniel Stendel's side could have moved above their hosts with a win, but produced a meek performance in Paisley.

Jonathan Obika's strike early in the second period was enough to separate the sides and move St Mirren up to ninth place and six points clear.

It was a first defeat in five for Hearts, who rarely looked like scoring.

The Tynecastle side now have just eight games to save their top-flight status and could be further adrift by the time they visit Livingston on Sunday.

St Mirren set tone & earn crucial win

Big goals in big games bring big results. This result is an almighty outcome for Jim Goodwin's side as the smiles on their fans' faces showed at full-time. A mixture of glee and sheer relief.

In contrast, this was an awful result for Hearts, if not quite fatal. In truth, they got what they largely deserved from a fairly insipid performance that was littered with predictable football and a lack of threat until late on. It was too late.

The hosts started exactly in the manner their manager demanded. Set the tone from the start was the message and they did.

Akin Famewo bundled wide from a corner when he may have done better. Alex Jakubiak then brilliantly danced past challenges inside the box and pulled back for Cammy MacPherson, who scooped over from a great position.

Ilkay Durmus then sent in a wonderful delivery that Zdenek Zlamal was forced to tip over. From the corner, the ball fell to Calum Waters, whose piledriver cannoned off Loic Damour to safety.

To that point, nothing from Hearts. It was not relentless pressure from St Mirren but the were clearly the better side.

More neat work from Jakubiak drew a foul out wide. Wallace threw in a wonderful cross that bounced with Obika flat on his feet. Any touch from the striker and it would have been the opener.

Hearts just couldn't create much of note. Aaron Hickey did step up when he cut inside on to his right foot but the shot was tame.

Things then became scrappy before the hosts upped the ante with half-time approaching.

Jakubiak again was instrumental, with a low ball from the right which found the onrushing MacPherson. His first-time shot arrowed powerfully towards goal but straight at Zlamal, who bundled it over.

Half-time brought changes from Stendel. Liam Boyce came on to push three up top. It had limited impact and was quickly undone.

Hearts' backline, encouraged by their manager, stepped very high and were exposed by Wallace's vision and delivery. He sent a first-time ball over the top for Obika, who held off challenges to force in.

There was a suggestion that the ball hit his hand as he ran through. No-one in black and white cared as the home supporters erupted, sensing how big a step to safety this might become.

Jakubiak came close to a second when Zlamal touched his shot past before Stendel made changes to make something happen, changes that brought fury from the increasingly desperate travelling support.

Their best chance came when Michael Smith fired across, it fell to Lewis Moore but he miscontrolled in a fabulous position and the ball squirmed painfully to safety. Hearts pushed and pushed but failed to test Vaclav Hladky enough.

There was more drama in the final moments. Clevid Dikamona went down under Sam Foley's challenge. The defender raced after referee Alan Muir, who waived away his penalty claims.

Six torturous minutes of injury followed. Jakubiak blew a superb chance but Hearts fate was eventually sealed as St Mirren delivered a crucial victory in the race to stay in Premiership.

Man of the match - Sam Foley

There were a number of strong candidates for St Mirren. Time and time again, Wallace brought composure on the ball and some wonderful deliveries. Jakubiak threatened at times. MacPherson was impressive until being forced off.

However, Sam Foley really stood out. He moved back to centre half and the captain was rock solid back there on a night when he had to be.

'Maybe they've lost a bit of hope' - reaction

Goodwin's 'heart in his mouth' in St Mirren win

St Mirren manager Jim Goodwin: "It was a fantastic result and it was a night where it was just all about the result.

"I knew it wasn't going to be pretty before the game. It was all about resilience and character and just getting stuck in, basically. I'm just delighted for the players."

Hearts manager Daniel Stendel: "St Mirren fought from the first minute. Forty-five minutes is not enough in a game like this. Everybody expected that you fight and have desire in every game.

"I know this is disappointing for all. Maybe they've lost a little bit of hope for our big goal. I promise Sunday I'll play a team that knows how big a game it is and will fight from the first minute. I never give up."

'Hearts only fought in second half' - Stendel