St Johnstone 2 Alashkert FC 1 (agg 2-2): Tommy Wright's side fall short and out of Europe

Five players have been injured either in the two matches with Alashkert or in preparation - Murray Davidson, Chris Millar, Simon Lappin, David Wotherspoon and Fraser Wright.

And Steven Anderson was taken to hospital with a nasty cheekbone injury and concussion after being hit on the face by Siarhei Usenia who escaped with a yellow card.

Now instead of planning for a mammoth 9,000-mile round trip to Kazakhstan to face Kairat Almaty, they have over three weeks to wait before the SPFL Premiership season starts.

Michael O'Halloran, easily their most effective player, had levelled the tie with a close-range finish in 34 minutes and it was expected they would go on to complete the job.

However, they lost a disastrous goal 17 minutes from time and although Brad McKay netted four minutes from the end to win the game, they were out on away goals against the Armenians and who had a man sent off.

Wright said: "We lost a goal from a long ball down the middle and it shouldn't be that easy at any level of football. The goal we lost over there was just as bad and that's disappointing.

"It was an assault on Steven Anderson and if you did that in the street you'd be lifted. It's quite serious. Steven was vomiting in the dressing room, he has concussion and he's been taken to hospital with serious damage to his cheekbone - but that isn't why we lost.

"I don't want to sound like I'm bleating, fair play to Alashkert because they won the tie and we are disappointed in ourselves over the two games.

"We don't lose many soft goals but we have given them two in these games.

"We were in control against 10 men but shot ourselves in the foot by losing a really poor goal.

"It's extremely disappointing because it shouldn't be that easy to score at this level

The McDiarmid Park side were too nervous to begin with but there was no hint of the humiliation that was to come in the first half after they settled down.

O'Halloran began to be an influence and his pace and precision almost led to the breakthrough the Perth fans craved.

He made a terrific run down the right in 25 minutes and delivered a great cross but Chris Kane headed wide from a decent position.

However, there was nothing the Armenians could do to stop O'Halloran in 34 minutes as Tommy Wright's men roared into the lead.

Tam Scobbie played in a deep free kick which was cleared only as far as Joe Shaughnessy who lobbed the ball back into the box.

It broke to Wright whose shot was blocked by Kasparov but O'Halloran was there to slam the rebound high into the net.

There was a scare just before half-time when Khoren Veranyan was allowed a free header from Aram Bareghamyan's corner but thankfully for the hosts he sent his effort over the top.

St Johnstone's task was made slightly easier when Karen Muradyn was sent off for a second yellow card for a foul on Kane having been booked in 10 minutes for impeding Fraser Wright.

The hosts still needed another goal and knew they could not afford to concede but the unthinkable happened in 73 minutes.

They were caught completely flat-footed as Araran Arakelyn played what seemed a simple ball over the top and suddenly Norayr Gyozalyn was through on his own.

Alan Mannus was too late to see the danger and as he raced off his line Gyozalyn simply lifted the ball over his head.

The Saints fans could not believe what they were seeing and their hearts sank as they realised European football was over for another season so desperately early.

They were given a lifeline four minutes from time when former Hearts defender Brad McKay hit a swerving right foot shot in off the left post from the edge of the box.

However, they could not find another goal and they were out on away goals.

To rub salt into their wounds Alashkert coach Abraham Kashmayan said: We deserved to go through over the two legs. Even with 10 men we coped with what St Johnstone threw at us."