csconstantine.com

BARRY SMITH'S 10-man Dundee stretched their unbeaten run in the league to 15 games - and gave the gaffer the perfect birthday gift.

Sean higgins' first-half header was enough to wrap up the points in a feisty clash.

And it dashed Binos boss Jocky scott's bid to put one over the club who sacked him last year when they were clear at the top of Division One.

Dundee had gary irvine red carded for a challenge on stirling captain ross forsyth but have now defied their 25-point deduction to reach seventh spot.

However, manager smith - who turned 37 yesterday - insists they are not out of danger. And he called on his troops to continue their fine run of form.

Smith said: "There are still a lot of points to play for and stirling have games in hand.

"We have to keep playing the way we are. But at this stage it's just another three points.

"All we are looking to do is get in a position where we are safe.

We dominated the first half but stirling came out and put us under a lot of pressure even before we went down to 10 men so credit to them."

Irvine saw red and seven others were booked.

On his man's dismissal, smith said: "i didn't see if it was twofooted.

The ref made his decision - that's what he's there for."

Stirling suffered a setback in just 10 minutes when Greg McDonald - playing his first game of the year after injury - was stretchered off with an Achilles problem.

But they had the best chance to take the lead.

Michael Doyle swung over a corner that was met by the head of on-loan hearts striker gordon smith.

it looked a goal all the way until Nicky riley stepped in to clear off the line.

And Binos were made to pay in 35 minutes as higgins netted a superb header from Matt Lockwood's cross from the left. it almost got worse for stirling but stephen O'Neill's rocket was stopped by scott Christie.

At the other end rab Douglas saved Dundee with a brilliant one-handed save from a Chris Aitken free-kick that looked destined for the back of the net.

Six minutes after the break Stephen O'Donnell sent over a corner from the left but Craig Forsyth's glancing header went wide to the relief of the home support.

But stirling weren't dead yet and began applying pressure.

Michael Mullen could have equalised when his shot from a smith reverse pass flew over.

In 64 minutes irvine was red-carded for his meaty challenge on forsyth.

And there was another flashpoint in 73 minutes when Douglas and Doyle were booked after a clash that also involved Dundee's rhys Weston.

Albion huffed and puffed but lacked a cutting edge and the Dens men held on.

Scott said: "Big rab had his normal three our four excellent saves. had he not we might have got something out of the game.

"The effort, commitment and attitude were different class.

"I can't fault them and i see a big improvement from day one. As long we keep improving it will give us a better chance to put points on the board.

"The biggest problem we have right now is scoring goals."

MoM: Higgins (Dundee)

Labels: daily, Division, Dundee, Record, Scottish, Stirling