Falkirk turned in a strong second-half performance to earn their first win over Aberdeen since 1994.
Michael Higdon smashed home a fantastic shot after a neat exchange with strike partner Steve Lovell.
Scott Severin went closest for the Dons with a first-half strike that was cleared off the goal-line.
The Dons posed little threat thereafter and both Higdon and Lovell went close before the latter saw a lobbed effort trickle inches wide of an empty net.
It was a first league win for the Bairns since mid-November and lifts them four points clear of bottom club Inverness, who host Celtic on Sunday.
With Falkirk looking nervous and Aberdeen guilty of too many stray passes, there was very little to occupy either goalkeeper in a scrappy opening 20 minutes.
The visitors were first to threaten when the home side failed to clear a Charlie Mulgrew corner and Scott Severin's raking shot was cleared off the goal-line by Arnau Riera.
The Bairns responded with a Higdon strike from the edge of the penalty box, which flew too high to trouble keeper Jamie Langfield.
Higdon was later inches away from connecting with a great Scott Arfield cross right in front of goal.
Darren Mackie showed Falkirk's veteran defender Steven Pressley a clean pair of heels to reach Stuart Duff's cleverly weighted pass, but Spanish keeper Dani Mallo stuck out a foot to keep out the forward's low shot from 16 yards.
Shortly before the interval, former Dons striker Lovell found himself unmarked from a corner only to head Neil McCann's delivery over from close range.
Falkirk made a bright start to the second half and, with Arfield prominent in midfield, had the Dons pinned back.
That pressure was rewarded on 55 minutes when Lovell rolled an inviting lay-off to his strike partner and Higdon blazed an unstoppable shot high into the net from 18 yards.
Higdon, growing in confidence, then went close with an ambitious volley from distance, taking a high, dropping ball first time.
The Dons pressed in the final 10 minutes, but substitutes Chris Maguire and Sone Aluko both wasted good shooting chances, failing to trouble Mallo with their efforts.
On 86 minutes, Falkirk had a wonderful opportunity to double their lead when Lovell burst clear of the Dons defence and lifted the ball over the advancing Langfield.
However, the striker's touch was just too heavy and he couldn't keep up with the ball as it drifted wide of the gaping goal.
Falkirk defender Lee Bullen made sure the home side held on for a much-needed win when he got a crucial touch to a dangerous Richard Foster cross, with Lee Miller and Tommy Wright both waiting to pounce.
Falkirk manager John Hughes: "It was difficult with the blustery conditions but the players dug the result out and showed real effort, which they've being doing for me all season.
"Big Elvis (Steven Pressley) was probably our man-of-the-match. He marshalled our defence really well and I'm really pleased we kept a clean sheet.
"Dani Mallo reacted well to the other night; he punched well, caught well and kicked well.
"It's nice to get the points at this time of the year when every one is valuable."
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood: "I thought we were comfortable in the first half; we had two great chances but it just wouldn't go in for us.
"The second half was always going to be a battle and they got the break with the goal and took confidence from it.
"Too many players who have done brilliantly for us just weren't at that level.
"Our passing was poor and Falkirk deserved to win it, on their second half performance."
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