Livingston's top six hopes were dashed as they fell to a tame 2-0 defeat at Dundee United.
Jamie McGrath's long-range strike on 17 minutes as the difference in a rather timid first-half before Steven Fletcher wrapped things up five minutes from time.
Tannadice had been a happy hunting ground for the Lions in recent seasons, having won four of their last five visits, and they went into the clash knowing a win was needed to squeeze back into the top six on the final day before the split. Even that, though, might not have been enough as they needed either St Mirren to lose at home to Kilmarnock or Hibs to drop points at McDiarmid Park against managerless St Johnstone.
