A second-half screamer from substitute Stephen Kingsley and a headed goal from Claudio Braga inside the first two minutes secured a road with for Hearts, the William Hill Premiership pace-setters, at the wind-swept Falkirk Stadium.
It was a welcome three points to consolidate the success over Celtic and a tonic as they head into a tough Festive period with Rangers visiting Tynecastle next Sunday (13.30) and a visit to Hibernian on Saturday, December 27 (12.30) before bottom club Livingston come to Gorgie on January 3 (15.00).
Earlier Falkirk made four changes but it only took Hearts 67 seconds to open the scoring at the Falkirk Stadium. Lawrence Shankland fired the ball towards The Bairns goal from the edge of the box and Scotland squad member, Scott Bain, tipped the ball onto the crossbar.
It bounced down but Claudio Braga was there to nod home and spark a rousing chorus of Radio Braga – a twist on Radio Gaga from Queen – from the travelling fans.
The goal moved the Portugal-born forward to eight alongside Shankland.
Last season, Falkirk beat Hearts 2-0 in the League Cup, but the Jambos have given themselves a great platform to erase that memory thanks to the whirlwind start. And it could have been two had Michael Steinwender’s effort not drifted wide of the goal from a Harry Milne corner.
The elements were playing a part, rain and strong wind, but Falkirk settles and Calvin Miller forced Alexander Schwolow to dive to his right to save at the near post.
And Craig Halkett had to deal with a searching cross from Alfredo Agyeman, making only his second Premiership start, on the right. Steinwender was on hand to shepherd to safety a diagonal ball from the right which split the Jambos rearguard.
Hearts broke down the left and Shankland fed Milne who fired a good ball into the box. It was cleared.
The conditions deteriorated as Hearts won another corner. Alexandros Kyziridis sent the ball into the danger area but it was cleared as Hearts maintained their pressure on The Bairns.
Tomas Magnusson was booked for a foul on Brad Spencer and it was not all one-way traffic, but Hearts broke again through Kyziridis who fed Braga. He picked out Shankland to his left but the captain sliced the ball wide from a good position.
The conditions nullified good football but Filip Lissah was forced to take out Milne who charged down the left. Lissah was booked and so was Halkett after halting an Agyeman charge down the right.
Minutes later, Falkirk broke and Kyrell Wilson beat the Hearts defence for pace and rounded Schwolow and looked certain to find the net. Milne ran back towards goal and deflected the ball for a corner. Falkirk claimed for handball, but VAR ruled in favour of the Hearts defender.
The half-time whistle blew with Hearts just ahead. Both had incentives, Hearts to move six points clear of second-placed Celtic and Falkirk who have not scored in three matches.
It was the visitors who had the first opportunity, Magnusson seeing his shot blocked from the edge of the box after a move involving Shankland and Kyziridis. Milne then had a chance to charge down the left and cross but Falkirk mopped up.
Henry Cartwright was spoken to by the referee for a heavy tackle on Cammy Devlin before Shankland saw a chip into the six-yard box gobbled up by Bain.
Kyziridis darted into the box and Sam Hart did enough to send his effort wide for a corner then the Greek winger whipped in a cross and Braga arched his body to direct his header towards the net. Bain sent the ball for a corner.
Hart then had to deflect a Braga cross for another corner. Again, it was unproductive. The play moved to the other end and Oisin McEntee was forced to block Agyeman in a dangerous spot on the edge of the box as John McGlynn lined-up a triple change.
Miller fired the ball towards the far post as they prepared but Aygeman got in the way. It was his last intervention as he was replaced along with Brian Cartwright and Ethan Ross for Brian Graham, Dylan Tait and Ethan Williams.
Hearts also prepared fresh blood with the struggling Milne replaced by Stirling-born Kingsley (pictured by Nigel Duncan) who was once a Falkirk player.
Scott Arfield then made ready with Miller making way as McGlynn searched for an equaliser and then wow. Kingsley latched onto a ball near the edge of the box and he hammered it into the net with his left foot. What an introduction as it flew past the right arm of the diving Bain and into the net only three minutes after coming on. Time 77 minutes for 2-0.
Key a chorus of “We Shall Not be Moved” from the Hearts fans as Shankland had a sniff at the far post. Bain saved with his feet.
On came Blair Spittal, Elton Kabangu and Sabah Kerjota came on for Shankland, Braga and Kyziridis inside the final ten minutes as Derek McInnes bid to secure three points.
That was accomplished without a scare and the Men in Maroon move on with a week to prepare for Rangers.
