It was perhaps an ominous sign before kick-off that Bryan Jackson, a man used to dealing with deficits, was a guest of Hearts' in the directors box.
The administrator helped dig the Gorgie outfit out of a grave financial mess last year but this time it was all about the shortfall on the pitch as Hearts finally surrendered an unbeaten league record against Falkirk in their 21st match.
It was always going to take something special to get the better of Robbie Neilson's side but Falkirk duly delivered with a fantastic team performance that propelled the Bairns into the Championship play-offs.
Following a 4-1 loss in Gorgie back in August, it looked like it would be another difficult afternoon for Peter Houston's side after Genero Zeefuik marked his home debut with a goal after 90 seconds.
But the visitors responded in emphatic fashion with deserved goals either side of the break from John Baird and Rory Loy.
Substitute James Keatings levelled for the Championship leaders but Craig Sibbald struck a sublime winner ten minutes from time to send Falkirk into fourth place.
"It was a cracking game and I'm bursting with pride for my players because they put a lot into that match," said ecstatic Falkirk manager Houston.
"I could sit here and go through the whole team and say they've done their job because it was a day that we got everything right.
"Hearts are quality and by us winning, that might be a monkey off their back in many ways."
Hearts got off to a great start when Osman Sow, returning from a four month thigh injury, set up Zeefuik to slam a shot into the net from eight yards.
That was as good as it got for the hosts as Falkirk went on to boss the rest of the half.
The equaliser arrived in the 33rd minute from the penalty spot after young Heats defender Jordan McGhee caught Loy with a rash challenge inside the area, leaving Baird to thunder a rising effort past Neil Alexander.
Falkirk began the second half in the same fashion and stormed ahead after 52 minutes through Loy.
Taking in a pass from Blair Alston in a central position, Loy spun away from McGhee and his rising left-footed drive glanced off the post before bulging the net.
That spurred Hearts into action and McGhee headed just wide before there were deafening claims for a penalty when Sow fell under a challenge from Peter Grant.
Falkirk keeper Jamie MacDonald came to his side's rescue in the 59th minute with a one-handed reflex save to keep out Nicholson's close range header.
Neilson brought on James Keatings for Sow as Hearts went about trying to keep their proud unbeaten record intact.
A great chance fell to the pint-sized striker in the 72nd minute but after dallying on the ball from a Nicholson's pass inside the area, MacDonald made a great block.
It was one-way traffic and Keatings made amends seconds later when he drilled in an equaliser from eight yards after Zeefuik cushioned Prince Buaben's cross into his path.
The drama was not over and Falkirk came off the ropes to land another blow in the 80th minute through Sibbald.
Morgaro Gomis had his pocket picked on the edge of his own box by Blair Alston and Sibbald showed great close ball control inside the area before placing a shot low into the corner of Alexander's goal.
A philosophical Neilson, whose team remain 13 points clear of Rangers at the summit, said: "To go this long in a league season undefeated is magnificent from the players and they should take a lot of credit for that.
"We just have to bounce back from this and hopefully go another 17 games undefeated.
"I was very calm in the dressing room after and just said that if you are going to win anything in football, you need to lose games as well.
"There's very few teams who have gone through a season undefeated and statistically we probably weren't going to do it."
Hearts: Alexander; Paterson, McGhee, Wilson, Eckersley; Walker, Gomis (Holt 82), Buaben, Nicholson; Sow (Keatings 65), Zeefuik
Substitutes not used: Hamilton, Holt, Pallardo, Oliver, Carrick, McKay
Booked: Zeefuik, Walker, Buaben, Eckersley Falkirk: MacDonald; Duffie, Vaulks, Grant, Leahy; Taiwo (Smith 82), Sibbald, Kerr, Alston; Loy (Biabi 90), Baird (86)
Substitutes not used: Bowman, Maybury, Cooper, Morgan
Booked: Leahy, Vaulks, Kerr, Alston Referee: Don Robertson
Attendance: 16,206
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