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Chris Kane came off the bench to score his first St Johnstone goal, which gives the Perth club a chance of playing in Europe next season.

The 20-year-old striker ran on to a James McFadden pass to slot the ball home on 70 minutes.

Saints end the campaign in fourth place and will enter the Europa League if Inverness win the Scottish Cup.

Aberdeen finished strongly but could not find a way through on what was captain Russell Anderson's final game.

Midway through the second half, Dundee United were ahead in the race for fourth as they rattled in the goals against their city rivals, 70 miles south.

Saints boss Wright sent on Brian Graham, McFadden and eventually Kane to try to rescue things.

Only relegated St Mirren have scored fewer league goals than the Perth side but they did dig one more out just when they needed it.

McFadden caught the Dons defence out with an inviting pass into the inside right channel and Kane sprinted clear and, with virtually his first kick, showed real composure to sweep the ball under Scott Brown's body into the far corner of the net.

It was triumph for the desire that St Johnstone put into the game and the visitors were typically impressive in defence.

Alan Mannus played his part with a stunning fingertip on to the post to deny Jonny Hayes what would have been a deserved goal for his front-running.

That was on the stroke of half time and came after the Northern Ireland international had been bailed out by Steven Anderson's goal-line clearance when Cammy Smith got the ball past him.

Early in the second half, Tam Sobbie made a goal-saving tackle to stop Smith on the edge of the penalty box.

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes and his players were not convinced Scobbie got a touch on the ball.

Aberdeen captain Russell Anderson was given a warm send-off at Pittodrie

That and the fact they could not convert pressure in to goals themselves this time added to the frustration of a first home league defeat since August to any team other than Celtic.

It also meant a losing farewell for Anderson 18 years after he made his Pittodrie debut in a 2-0 defeat against Dunfermline.

Anderson was given a well-deserved standing ovation from the Dons fans and a guard of honour from both sets of players ahead of his last appearance.

But what would have pleased him most was the fact he did not look like a man who had to hang up his boots when the action got underway.

This was the defender's first game since a serious injury against the same opponents last August and he looked like he had never been away.

Not that the Perth club were out to make it a comfortable afternoon for the veteran given their desperation to join the Dons in the Europa League.

That was best displayed when Steven MacLean was booked in 32 minutes for a clear dive in the box in a vain attempt to earn a penalty.

By then Saints had shown plenty of intent going forward but the season-long problem of lack of goals was all too evident.

And, despite the promptings of Danny Swanson and willing runs of Michael O'Halloran, they rarely looked like solving that problem until Kane's late intervention.