And, suddenly, that was that. Just five days ago, we were favourites for the play-off place and possibly outright relegation. Instead, after one lucky deflection from Louis Moult's shoulder and a thundering second half against Kilmarnock, we are safe with a game to spare.
Season 2017/18 will be our 33rd consecutive year in the top-flight and it would be churlish to deny the players, coaches and officials at Fir Park a night of celebration. We have survived when many thought we would not and, regardless of how we got here, escaping a cut-throat relegation battle is always to be applauded.
Goodbye 2016/17
But very quickly the season analysis of just how we got to be where we were, less than a week ago, will have to be made. It will not make pleasant reading for many involved and when it comes time to hand out the new contracts, many will be left empty handed. Or so we must hope.
It is easy to get caught up in the euphoria of a successful end to the season, whether that is clinching second or 10th. It is a mistake we have made before and one which could have dire consequences if made again.
Manager Stephen Robinson has had a mixed bag of outcomes. The goals against column has improved while we retained a calamitous defence. He has shown he is not afraid to make bold decisions but has got many wrong.
Regardless, his one task was to keep us up and in the pass/fail business that is professional football he has been a success. But the average level of our performance in his reign means he effectively starts next season from zero rather than with much credit in the bank.
That season begins with us lagging a little behind others who had the chance to make plans sooner but we have seen before that wholesale change does not necessarily lead to failure – especially if you are replacing dross.
Robinson has not yet had a chance to use a transfer window and the first at his disposal will be the football equivalent of supermarket sweep. Two goalkeepers, a first-choice left-back, a strong centre-half, two central midfielders, a flexible winger and two strikers would seem the absolute minimum on the list.
Of course, we can point out that the under-20s have been among the best in the country in recent seasons and it is surely time for them to step up. On the other hand, it is time for the old warhorses James McFadden and Keith Lasley to step down, from playing at least.
They should leave the pitch with our thanks, applause and with their next steps in coaching ahead of them. But everyone at Fir Park, legends included, is in for a reminder over the next weeks that time does not wait for anyone.