Following an opening half that was bereft of any meaningful goalmouth action, the on-loan Aston Villa forward lashed a volley into the net 10 minutes into the second period.

The visitors had a chance to draw level at the end after Joe Bevan was brought down by stand-in goalkeeper Nicky Hogarth, but Dhanda shot wide.

The win lifts Falkirk level on points with fifth-placed Hibernian, who have a superior goal difference, while Dundee are now only three points clear of Kilmarnock in 11th.

There were mixed fortunes for these sides in the Scottish Cup after being taken to extra time at the weekend.

The Bairns, who finally overcame a stubborn Stenhousemuir, made five changes, although one of those was enforced just before kick-off after goalkeeper Scott Bain picked up an injury in the warm-up.

After going within seconds of knocking Celtic out of the cup before losing in extra time, Dundee manager Steven Pressley opted to go with the same starting XI.

Forward Broggio was lively from the start after getting a shot away inside the first two minutes. The forward drove into the box but his left-footed drive flashed past the post.

But Dundee grew into the game and arguably had the better of what was a poor opening half in terrible conditions.

The visitors registered an attempt at goal after five minutes but Cameron Congreve would have been disappointed with his final product.

Following a quick counter Simon Murray found his teammate in the box but Congreve’s left-footed shot was tame and Hogarth gathered easily.

The second half livened up, with Broggio breaking the deadlock in the 55th minute.

Dundee failed to clear their lines from a delivery into the box and Broggio forced a low volley from just inside the area past visiting goalkeeper Jon McCracken.

Dundee upped the intensity as they went in search of an equaliser and Falkirk goalkeeper Hogarth pulled off a stunning save to deny Joel Cotterill.

The on-loan Swansea winger did brilliantly to bring down Luke Graham’s long ball forward and his curling right-footed effort from the edge of the box was heading for the top corner before the goalkeeper’s crucial intervention.

Ryan Astley headed just wide from a Dhanda free-kick before on-loan Hearts playmaker Dhanda rifled a shot just past the post from distance.

Dundee kept pressing but Calvin Miller had a stinging shot from distance well saved by McCracken at the other end.

There was still time for late penalty drama in added time after VAR intervened.

Referee David Dickinson deemed that goalkeeper Hogarth brought down Dundee substitute Bevan inside the box.

Dhanda stepped up to take the spot-kick but fired his effort wide and the home side held on to collect all three points.