St Mirren's hopes of sealing a European spot suffered a serious setback with a damaging defeat to Hibs.
The Buddies knew a positive result in the capital could have given them a massive boost in their first ever top-six clash, with the sides locked on 44 points heading into the game.
The Paisley club didn't make it easy for themselves in the first half, gifting Elie Youan an opener within just five minutes when Marcus Fraser misjudged a simple throw in.
Hibs doubled their lead when they took advantage of more slack defending, Will Fish nodding in at the back post from a corner.
The Buddies were much improved in the second half, with Alex Greive netting his fourth goal of the campaign to bring the visitors within touching distance.
But despite a late rally Saints just couldn't find the leveller they craved, with Hibs taking the advantage into the remaining four post-split fixtures.
Stephen Robinson rang the changes after the Buddies woeful performance last time out against Kilmarnock. Greg Kiltie came into the midfield in place of Keanu Baccus, who dropped to the bench, while club captain Joe Shaughnessy was replaced by Declan Gallagher.
Greive was the one enforced change, with the New Zealand international replacing Tony Watt who will miss the rest of the season after injuring his ankle ligaments.
The changes didn't have the desired effect for the Saints, who couldn't have suffered a much worse start in the capital.
Marcus Fraser misjudged the bounce from a simple throw-in with less than five minutes on the clock. Youan nipped in ahead of the centre back before racing through and calmly slotting past Trevor Carson to break the deadlock.
St Mirren took ten minutes before they started to settle down in Leith. Mark O'Hara latched on to an Alex Greive knock down but couldn't get the velocity of his volley right, with the effort floating harmlessly onto the roof of the net.
Gallagher gave away a poor foul on Kevin Nisbet on the edge of the box as the Buddies continued to struggle to keep up with the pace of the hosts' attacks. Thankfully for the away side the striker's low effort was comfortably saved by Carson.
The reprieve was short lived though as Hibs quickly doubled their advantage on the 23 minute mark. A Joe Newell corner wasn't dealt with, with the ball eventually finding Fish at the back post who leapt to steer a header past Carson.
There was a break in play for a sore clash of heads, with former Saints midfielder Jake Doyle-Hayes clattering into the back of skipper Mark O'Hara. The Hibs midfielder was unable to continue, with O'Hara battling on after being patched up.
Ryan Strain had the visitors first meaningful effort on goal with half an hour on the clock. A long throw fell to the Aussie on the edge of the box, with his low drive held well by David Marshall.
Chris Cadden missed a glorious chance to make it three when Nisbet picked the winger out in the box on a counter-attack. He didn't get enough on his shot, with Carson denying Youan a second from a tight angle at the back post.
St Mirren were below par all over the pitch in the opening 45 minutes. A promising attack broke down before it even started when Greive's poor pass behind Scott Tanser killed a prospective attack dead, summing up the away team's efforts in the first half.
Josh Campbell blazed over the bar from six yards just before the break as Hibs threatened to kill the game as a contest before the half-time whistle blew.
O'Hara almost picked out Greive at the back post but the Kiwi couldn't get on the end of the skipper's fizzed cross, with the Buddies giving themselves a mountain to climb in the second half.
Robinson unsurprisingly mixed things up at the break, with Australia international Baccus replacing Gallagher and Gogic moving back into defence.
The Saints returned with a lot more energy, likely with their manager's angry team talk still ringing in their ears.
Kiltie picked out Strain with a brilliant through ball but the full-back could only find Marshall's feet at the near post.
Nisbet spurned a brilliant chance to put the result to bed on 55 minutes. He uncharacteristically fired over from just six yards out with the goal at his mercy.
The Buddies were much improved in the second half, particularly as an attacking threat. A lovely sweeping move saw O'Hara and Fraser combine before Strain pinged a deflected cross into the box. The ball fell at Curtis Main's feet just two yards out, but the Saints striker could only prod an effort straight at Marshall which was easily saved.
One minute later and St Mirren did halve the deficit. A goal kick was flicked on by Main, with Greive latching on before holding his nerve to squeeze a strike just past Marshall and bring his side right back into the game.
Strain curled over a first time effort from the edge of the box as the Saints looked to recover a potentially precious point.
Young forward Lewis Jamieson replaced Greive as the Buddies hunted a late leveller. The 21-year-old thought he'd grabbed it when the ball fell to him nicely on the edge of the box.
But his fierce effort rustled the side netting as Hibs held on to all three points.
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