Dundee Championship challenge suffered a major blow with this 1-0 defeat at Dens by third-placed Falkirk.
However, elsewehere Cowdenbeath did Paul Hartley’s side a huge favour by equalising late on against nearest challengers Hamilton.
Dundee were fast out of the blocks and with just one minute on the clock came close to opening the scoring when Peter MacDonald fired a free-kick from the angle of the Falkirk box inches past the post.
The Dark Blues pressed again with Martin Boyle having a cross tipped over the bar by Bairns keeper Michael McGovern.
From the resultant Jim McAlister corner, MacDonald had his header cleared off the line by Mark Millar.
And it was the on-loan Dundee United midfielder who was the provider as Falkirk took a shock lead on 18 minutes. Millar hit an inswinging corner from the left with Mark Beck flashing a header into the bottom corner of Kyle Letheren’s net.
Dundee came storming back and there were three great chances for Craig Beattie but he spurned them all including the last one in the 36th minute when he contrived to blast wide from six yards when he should have burst the net.
The opening spell of the second half was a frustrating one for Dundee but they survived a huge scare on 60 minutes.
Iain Davidson mistimed a tackle on Millar inside the home penalty area and referee John McKendrick had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Millar picked himself up to take it but Letheren produced an outstanding save, diving to his left to keep the scoreline at 1-0.
That let-off really got the crowd going but Dundee could not capitalised as they huffed and puffed without creating chances worthy of the name.
And it was Falkirk who held on for a victory that revived their faint title hopes.
See Monday’s Courier Sport for full analysis and reaction.