Steven Milne says the Dundee players are determined to continue their run of good form to repay the fans for their backing.
More than 1,000 supporters travelled to Stirling on Saturday for the Dark Blues’ third-round Scottish Cup tie, their numbers no doubt bolstered on the back of Dundee winning their last two league games against Raith and Morton.
However they were stunned when the Binos who are anchored to the bottom of the second division after five straight defeats took a shock lead against the run of play.
Darren Smith ghosted in unmarked at a free-kick to head firmly past the helpless Rab Douglas in the 25th minute.
However, Dundee nerves were settled shortly after on the half-hour mark when Ryan Conroy hit a stunning 25-yard free-kick into the top-left corner of Callum Reidford’s net.
Dundee continued to boss the game but the travelling fans had to wait until the 61st minute to celebrate what turned out to be the winner after the tireless Milne pounced on a Stirling error, then made room for himself before firing a shot into the net from the edge of the Stirling box.
‘Savo’, in his second spell at Dens, admits he cannot wait for Tuesday’s fourth-round draw when the SPL big guns will enter the pot.
He said: ”That was a great win. It doesn’t matter that Stirling are a league below us it is still a tough place to come to.
”There are no easy games in the Scottish Cup so we have come here and ground out another result which we have been doing recently.”
He added: ”We are on a bit of a roll and long may it continue. We went a goal behind but came back quickly with Ryan’s great strike.
”We just kept plugging away and I was delighted to get the winner.
”I love playing in the Scottish Cup and it is good that we are in the hat for the next round with the SPL clubs.”
Milne added: ”The fans were brilliant the first time I was here and obviously they rallied round the team last season and probably carried them over the line.
”We have now won our last three games so hopefully we can continue to give them something more to cheer about.”
Milne started alongside teenage striker Leighton McIntosh but the youngster was replaced shortly after half-time by on-loan Hearts player Calum Elliot.
Milne was so impressed by the Tynecastle star’s cameo that he hopes the club can lengthen his loan deal, due to end next week.
He said: ”Obviously, Calum is here to get match sharpness and it would be great if we could extend his stay. I’m not sure if that could be done but he looks really good and would be a superb addition to the squad.”