There was more Paisley punishment for the Premiership leaders as three-way title race took yet another twist

Hearts’ Harry Milne is dejected

If Hearts are going to do the unthinkable this season, it was never going to be easy.

But the Jambos didn’t half make things hard for themselves in Paisley.

The 1-0 defeat gives Celtic and Rangers the chance to cut the gap at the top of the table to just three points, with the Glasgow duo in action away to Aberdeen and at home Kilmarnock respectively. Two favours might be a bit much to ask.

It’s worth remembering that we’re only just into February and there will be plenty of ebb and flow to this title race yet.

Just like Rangers dropping points at Hibs on Sunday, Derek McInnes‘ men failing to win away to St Mirren yet again this season isn’t a fatal blow.

But the manner of the defeat will make for a few jittery Jambos this morning, not least because they’ve seen it before.

The Buddies knocked Hearts out of the Premier Sports Cup on their way to winning it – the Tynecastle club’s first defeat of the season, albeit on penalties.

And it was at the SMiSA where the Gorgie Boys dropped their first points of the campaign with a 2-2 draw in October.

Miguel Freckleton scores with a late header

They were perhaps fortunate not to leave empty handed that night, even though a late Landry Kabore winner was ruled out for offside.

But they didn’t heed the warnings and paid the price on Tuesday night.

You know what you’re going to get from St Mirren. They’re going to be aggressive and in your face, making life uncomfortable.

Recent form suggests they’ve not been doing that so well, but the usual approach spooked Hearts for some reason.

McInnes said afterwards that his team’s refusal to play forward got them into trouble. Saints certainly need no extra encouragement to press, but Hearts gave them it anyway from the off with a slow tempo and habit of going back the way.

Not for the first time this season, Stuart Findlay was clumsy in possession and lost it, which resulted in Craig Halkett having to make two lunging challenges to try and prevent a clear chance on goal.

He got the second one on Jacob Devaney all wrong and was sent packing after just half-an-hour.

It’s a third red card in their last six matches, but this time there was no overcoming the odds to claim all three points. In truth, they hadn’t been much better with 11 on the park.

Craig Halkett brings down St Mirren’s Jacob Devaney

Findlay errors also played a part in Alexander Schwolow and Beni Baningime’s dismissals against Dundee and St Mirren respectively, and the latest leaves Halkett suspended for next week’s Edinburgh derby.

Findlay is one of McInnes’ trusted lieutenants in the dressing room, but he needs to sharpen up.

Punters have been questioning the boss’ call to change the team that won so convincingly at Tannadice on Sunday.

Baningime was straight back in after suspension and had a stinker. Michael Steinwender replaced Jordi Altena at right back and looked uncomfortable. The Dutch right back seems to be the latest that McInnes doesn’t full trust to play every week after Christian Borchgrevink.

The decision to sacrifice Alexandros Kyzirids almost 10 minutes after Halkett walked – replacing him with Frankie Kent – also baffled fans given the Greek’s habit of making things happen in attack.

Then there’s the subs. McInnes has tended to stick with the same bodies for the majority of games this season, with changes coming late.

That Sabbah Kerjota and Eduardo Ageu only appeared with a minute left of stoppage time with the ten-men 1-0 was puzzling. The complete absence of new signings Islam Chesnokov and Rogers Mato from the squad has led to questions over fitness and how ready the January arrivals actually are.

McInnes and Hearts have got a hell of a lot right this season. But the same missteps seem to keep cropping up – against the Buddies in particular.

They almost certainly won’t have to face Stephen Robinson’s men against this season. But if they are to stay at the summit long enough to create history, then lessons need to be learned to stay