It could have been worse for Hearts on Saturday afternoon as they came back from 2-0 down at St Mirren to draw 2-2 in a disappointing performance - but that isn't good enough.
A late first-half enslaught saw Joe Shaughnessy turn home from a Curtis Main flick on just after the half-hour mark, before a Ryan Strain free-kick from 25 yards out meant the hairdryer may have been brandished by Jambos interim Steven Naismith.
Josh Ginnelly set up a grandstand finish by halving the deficit, but Peter Haring's red card looked to set them back to being on the retreat.
Yet when Ginnelly won a penalty with seconds left, Lawrence Shankland converted to send the away fans barmy. The result leaves Hearts sitting just one point above their rivals Hibs, albeit with the real threat of finishing up in sixth place - which seemed almost laughable at the start of February. Edinburgh Live takes a look at 3 main talking points.
READ MORE: Steven Naismith won't change Hearts mantra as Jambos boss delivers 'much better place' verdict
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Europa dreams broken
It's almost all but over now in Hearts' pursuit of a second consecutive Europa League qualification.
It seemed as though they'd cruise to a third-placed finish once Jim Goodwin was sent packing from Aberdeen as they raced 10 points clear of the Dons, but Barry Robson's magical turnaround and Hearts' capitulation has turned that on its head.
Hearts will surely now have to contend in the Europa Conference League if they fail to beat Aberdeen next week - and regardless of Celtic's result against Inverness in the Scottish Cup final, which would reward third place a chance to at least guarantee group stage football, they will look back with a tinge of disappointment on what could have been.
Lack of motivation
This was a Hearts team that just packed absolutely no punch whatsoever until the second half comeback.
They looked consigned to losing throughout the first half when Shaughnessy turned in the opener, and the result looked like it was only going to go one way - and that was heightened when Strain notched a free-kick from 25 yards out.
Even with the comeback in Paisley, it represents one win from eight games - which would be enough to take any team down from the Scottish Premiership.
But regardless of the quality Hearts have, they simply need the season to culminate now - providing they don't manage the unthinkable by allowing St Mirren and Hibs to finish ahead of them, finishing sixth in the process.
Naismith on final call
If Steven Naismith was believed to be the man to steady the ship following Robbie Neilson's sacking, the early signs are that he shouldn't be the man to lead them forward next season.
It's four points from four for the former Scotland striker - including a derby loss at Easter Road - and with Aberdeen and Rangers in their next two games, that record does not look like improving any time soon.
The interim boss will always be considered one of the frontrunners by the bookies to take over on a permanent basis.
But with performances such as today's and with goals being conceded in a multitude of ways, he needs to stop the rot - whilst only having three games to save his chances of becoming a permanent gaffer at Tynecastle.
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