Boot change brings fortune for Moussa
Dundee kicked off their Betfred Cup campaign with a comfortable win on their first visit to Forthbank since 2011.
Their League 2 hosts were in the game for almost an hour, but the Dark Blues had too much quality and Stirling remain without a victory over the Dens Parkers since October 1978.
Striker Sofien Moussa bagged a double for the visitors, with new signing Jean Mendy and Craig Wighton also on target for the Group D favourites, whose main rivals will be Dunfermline.
Moussa missed a sitter on the half-hour mark when he knocked the ball past the post from only a few yards out, but a quick change of boots seemed to do the trick and he expertly controlled a pass from skipper Generic Kusunga to smash the ball past Cammy Binnie after 39 minutes.
Dave Mackay’s men almost equalised early in the second half, but Dundee goalkeeper Jack Hamilton somehow kept out a Jason Marr header.
However, in 57 minutes, it was all over when Wighton picked out the unmarked Moussa, who nodded into the net.
It was 3-0 in 64 minutes. Moussa turned provider for Mendy, who found the bottom corner with a precise finish from the edge of the box
Wighton wrapped things up five minutes later with a wonderful effort with the outside of his foot from a Glen Kamara assist.
Dundee boss Neil McCann said: “I’m delighted. Stirling made it difficult at times and it took a brilliant double stop from Jack Hamilton at 1-0.
“That gave us a bit of a jolt and away we went.
“I’m really pleased that we scored four goals and kept a clean sheet.
“It was a super finish by Moussa for his first goal and that’s where I want him.
“He sometimes has a habit of drifting into areas where it is difficult to score, but I want him between the posts.
“Him and Mendy were a good partnership.”
Stirling manager Dave Mackay said: “For the first hour, I thought we matched them. We got into some great areas, but the goals we conceded were poor.
“We started the second half well and it was an incredible save to prevent the equaliser.
“They got the second goal quite quickly – then quality and full-time training was a factor.”