Even at a time of year associated with miracles, stopping Ross County winning the Division One title is now simply something that can’t be done.
Fifteen points clear with 15 to play for and in possession of a superior goal difference, it is inevitable the Highlanders will be heading to the SPL next season.
For Dundee, focus has now shifted on to claiming second place in the hope that the top division vote through reconstruction this summer.
While Dundee’s players are determined to finish in second place, a more pressing concern is getting the win they need over Queen of the South on Tuesday and hoping Ayr United beat Ross County to spare them a galling trip to Dingwall on Saturday to witness a title party.
Stephen O’Donnell, scorer of the opening goal against the Bairns, has not experienced being an unhappy bystander at one of these occasions before and has no intention of starting now.
The midfielder fired home a fantastic shot from 20 yards to open the scoring after 12 minutes before Falkirk were given a route back into the game when Mark Millar’s shot squirmed under Rab Douglas.
But Dundee were worth the win over Steven Pressley’s team and Ryan Conroy’s penalty, awarded for a Darren Dods handball, and then Steven Milne’s third were richly deserved.
”County have done enough to go on and win the league now,” said O’Donnell. ”But what we talked about in the dressing room beforehand is that we want to make sure we’re second. That’s our aim now and beating Falkirk helps us get closer to that.
”We have a game against Queen of the South now and hopefully things will fall so that we can delay County winning the league a bit more. We don’t want to go up there and see them lift the trophy. I have never experienced it before but I don’t imagine it’s a nice experience.
“But the first thing we have to do is take care of Queens. They are scrapping for their lives so will be desperate for a win.
“We have five games to go and want to win them all. We want to end the season on a high note. But I know Gus McPherson well from St Mirren, he has lots of experience so will have them well organised and fired up for it.”
Dundee have applied for membership of the SPL in the hope Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell’s plan of a 14-team league is pushed through this summer. While it seems a long shot, ex-Celtic keeper Douglas insists it is the right thing to do.
He said: ”You never know what’s going to happen in football something might change so the club is right to put an application in.”
Bairns boss Pressley said: ”I felt the penalty was harsh because Darren couldn’t get his arm out of the road. The ball was hit from five yards so how is he meant to avoid it? It’s difficult to pull your arm away at that distance.
”The third goal was the significant one but the penalty came at a time we were very much on the front foot. I felt we dominated the game and was proud of the lads for the way we played football. In terms of ball retention and wanting to play in the right manner I was very pleased.”
Dundee manager Barry Smith was pleased with his players, adding: ”It was a good disciplined performance against a good Falkirk team. I felt everyone played their part, from the strikers right back through the side.”