2019–20 Scottish League Cup group stage

2019–20 Scottish League Cup (group stage)
Tournament details
CountryScotland
Dates12 July 2019 – 28 July 2019
Teams40
Tournament statistics
Matches played80
Goals scored248 (3.1 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Kevin Nisbet
(5 goals)

The 2019–20 Scottish League Cup Group stage was played from 12 to 28 July 2019.[1] A total of 40 teams competed in the group stage. The winners of each of the eight groups, as well as the four best runners-up progressed to the second round (last 16) of the 2019–20 Scottish League Cup.

Format

[edit]

The group stage consisted of eight groups of five teams. The four clubs competing in the UEFA Champions League (Celtic) and Europa League (Rangers, Kilmarnock, and Aberdeen) qualifying rounds were given a bye through to the second round. The 40 teams taking part in the group stage consisted of the other eight teams that competed in the 2018–19 Scottish Premiership, and all of the teams that competed in the 2018–19 Scottish Championship, 2018–19 Scottish League One and 2018–19 Scottish League Two, as well as the 2018–19 Highland Football League and the 2018–19 Lowland Football League champions.

The winners of each of the eight groups, as well as the four best runners-up, progressed to the second round (last 16), which will include the four UEFA qualifying clubs. At this stage, the competition reverts to the traditional knock-out format. The four group winners with the highest points total and the clubs entering at this stage were seeded, with the four group winners with the lowest points unseeded along with the four best runners-up.

The traditional point system of awarding three points for a win and one point for a draw was used, however, for each group stage match that finished in a draw, a penalty shoot-out took place, with the winner being awarded a bonus point.[2]

The draw for the group stage took place on 28 May 2019 and was broadcast live on the SPFL YouTube channel.

Teams

[edit]

North

[edit]

Seeding

[edit]

Teams in Bold qualified for the second round.

Top seeds Second seeds Unseeded

01. Hibernian
02. Heart of Midlothian
03. St Johnstone
04. Dundee

09. Ross County
10. Dundee United
11. Inverness CT
12. Alloa Athletic

Source:[1]

South

[edit]

Seeding

[edit]

Teams in Bold qualified for the second round.

Top seeds Second seeds Unseeded

05. Motherwell
06. Livingston
07. Hamilton Academical
08. St Mirren

13. Ayr United
14. Greenock Morton
15. Partick Thistle
16. Dunfermline Athletic

Source:[1]

North

[edit]

All times are BST (UTC +1).

Group A

[edit]

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification HOM EFI DUN STE COW
1 Heart of Midlothian 4 2 1 1 0 6 3 +3 9 Qualification for the Second Round p1–1 2–1
2 East Fife 4 2 1 0 1 5 3 +2 8 p1–1 2–0
3 Dundee United 4 2 0 1 1 6 4 +2 7 0–2 3–0
4 Stenhousemuir 4 1 0 0 3 4 6 −2 3 1–2 2–0
5 Cowdenbeath 4 1 0 0 3 2 7 −5 3 0–2 2–0
Source: [3]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[4]

Matches

[edit]
Heart of Midlothian1–1Dundee United
Irving 44' [5][6] Shankland 9'
Penalties
5–3
Attendance: 9,091
Referee: Kevin Clancy
Cowdenbeath2–0East Fife
[7]
Attendance: 469
Referee: David Dickinson
Stenhousemuir1–2Dundee United
A. Munro 70' [8]
Attendance: 1,156
Referee: Steven Kirkland
Cowdenbeath0–2Heart of Midlothian
[9]
Attendance: 2,311
Referee: Colin Steven
Dundee United3–0Cowdenbeath
[10]
Attendance: 2,526
Referee: David Lowe
East Fife2–0Stenhousemuir
Agnew 56', 85' (pen) [11]
Attendance: 308
Referee: Duncan Williams
Dundee United0–2East Fife
[12]
  • Dunsmore 38'
  • Watt 51'
Attendance: 2,778
Referee: Graham Beaton
Heart of Midlothian2–1Stenhousemuir
Halkett 82', 87' [13] McGuigan 77'
Attendance: 7,299
Referee: Alan Newlands
East Fife1–1Heart of Midlothian
Duggan 54' [14][15] Walker 15'
Penalties
7–6
Attendance: 1,998
Referee: David Munro
Stenhousemuir2–0Cowdenbeath
[16]
Attendance: 262
Referee: David Dickinson

Group B

[edit]

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ROS FOR MON STJ BRE
1 Ross County 4 4 0 0 0 12 2 +10 12 Qualification for the Second Round 2–0 4–1
2 Forfar Athletic 4 3 0 0 1 9 4 +5 9 2–1 3–0
3 Montrose 4 1 1 0 2 4 9 −5 5 1–4 1–0
4 St Johnstone 4 1 0 0 3 6 5 +1 3 1–2 4–0
5 Brechin City 4 0 0 1 3 1 12 −11 1 0–4 1–1p
Source: [17]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[4]

Matches

[edit]
Forfar Athletic3–0Brechin City
[18]
Attendance: 462
Referee: Duncan Williams
Ross County4–1Montrose
[19] Allan 51'
Attendance: 1,159
Referee: Chris Fordyce
Brechin City0–4Ross County
[20]
Attendance: 272
Referee: Alan Newlands
Montrose1–0St Johnstone
Masson 72' [21]
Attendance: 866
Referee: Barry Cook
Montrose1–4Forfar Athletic
Skelly 9' (pen.) [22]
Attendance: 611
Referee: Craig Napier
St Johnstone1–2Ross County
Tanser 8' (pen.) [23] Mckay 30', 45+1'
Attendance: 1,648
Referee: Bobby Madden
Ross County2–0Forfar Athletic
Graham 15', 76' [24]
Attendance: 1,002
Referee: Willie Collum
St Johnstone4–0Brechin City
[25]
Attendance: 1,497
Referee: Steven McLean
Brechin City1–1Montrose
Reekie 73' [26][27] Campbell 57'
Penalties
2–4
Attendance: 405
Referee: Kevin Graham
Forfar Athletic2–1St Johnstone
[28] Kennedy 65'
Attendance: 1,009
Referee: Euan Anderson

Group C

[edit]

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification HIB ALO ARB ELG STI
1 Hibernian 4 3 1 0 0 8 1 +7 11 Qualification for the Second Round 2–0 3–0
2 Alloa Athletic 4 2 0 1 1 8 8 0 7 3–3p 2–1
3 Arbroath 4 2 0 0 2 10 8 +2 6 2–3 2–1
4 Elgin City 4 1 1 0 2 7 7 0 5 0–2 3–0
5 Stirling Albion 4 0 0 1 3 3 12 −9 1 1–1p 1–6
Source: [29]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[4]

Matches

[edit]
Arbroath2–1Elgin City
[30] Sutherland 29'
Attendance: 485
Referee: Graham Beaton
Stirling Albion1–1Hibernian
Wilson 70' [31][32] Allan 44' (pen.)
Penalties
4–5
Attendance: 2,184
Referee: Greg Aitken
Alloa Athletic3–3Elgin City
[33][34]
Penalties
5–6
Attendance: 316
Referee: Gavin Ross
Stirling Albion1–6Arbroath
Mackin 47' [35]
Attendance: 474
Referee: Craig Napier
Elgin City3–0Stirling Albion
[36]
Attendance: 507
Referee: Scott Lambie
Hibernian2–0Alloa Athletic
[37]
Attendance: 5,470
Referee: Kevin Clancy
Alloa Athletic2–1Stirling Albion
[38] Wilson 51'
Attendance: 412
Referee: Grant Irvine
Hibernian3–0Arbroath
[39]
Attendance: 4,769
Referee: Bobby Madden
Elgin City0–2Hibernian
[40]
Attendance: 2,106
Referee: Willie Collum
Arbroath2–3Alloa Athletic
[41]
Attendance: 590
Referee: Barry Cook

Group D

[edit]

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification DND ICT PET COV RAI
1 Dundee 4 2 2 0 0 4 0 +4 10 Qualification for the Second Round 1–0 p0–0
2 Inverness CT 4 2 0 1 1 7 4 +3 7 3–2 4–1
3 Peterhead 4 1 1 1 1 3 4 −1 6 p0–0 2–1
4 Cove Rangers 4 1 0 1 2 6 5 +1 4 0–0p 3–0
5 Raith Rovers 4 1 0 0 3 4 11 −7 3 0–3 3–1
Source: [42]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[4]

Matches

[edit]
Peterhead2–1Cove Rangers
[43] Masson 14' (pen)
Attendance: 744
Referee: Gavin Duncan
Raith Rovers0–3Dundee
[44]
Attendance: 2,584
Referee: Lloyd Wilson
Peterhead0–0Inverness Caledonian Thistle
[45][46]
Penalties
11–10
Attendance: 606
Referee: Steven Reid
Cove Rangers0–0Dundee
[47][48]
Penalties
2–3
Attendance: 1,410
Referee: Scott Lambie
Dundee0–0Peterhead
[49][50]
Penalties
4–2
Attendance: 2,322
Referee: Greg Aitken
Inverness Caledonian Thistle4–1Raith Rovers
[51] Allan 50'
Attendance: 1,054
Referee: Gavin Ross
Inverness Caledonian Thistle3–2Cove Rangers
[52] Megginson 45', 46'
Referee: David Lowe
Raith Rovers3–1Peterhead
[53] Armour 88'
Attendance: 788
Referee: Chris Fordyce
Cove Rangers3–0Raith Rovers
[54]
Attendance: 791
Referee: Craig Napier
Dundee1–0Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Johnson 33' [55]
Attendance: 2,066
Referee: Nick Walsh

South

[edit]

All times are BST (UTC +1).

Group E

[edit]

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification MOT GMO QOS DUM ANN
1 Motherwell 4 4 0 0 0 13 0 +13 12 Qualification for the Second Round 4–0 4–0
2 Greenock Morton 4 2 1 0 1 14 8 +6 8 p3–3 6–1
3 Queen of the South 4 1 1 1 1 10 10 0 6 0–3 p3–3
4 Dumbarton 4 1 0 0 3 3 12 −9 3 0–2 1–4
5 Annan Athletic 4 0 0 1 3 3 13 −10 1 0–5 0–1
Source: [56]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[4]

Matches

[edit]
Annan Athletic0–1Dumbarton
[57] Tierney 63'
Attendance: 264
Referee: Steven Kirkland
Queen of the South0–3Motherwell
[58]
Attendance: 1,956
Referee: Don Robertson
Greenock Morton6–1Dumbarton
[59] Neill 63'
Attendance: 1,228
Referee: Grant Irvine
Queen of the South3–3Annan Athletic
[60][61]
  • Douglas 34'
  • McLear 54'
  • Wooding-Holt 81'
Penalties
5–4
Attendance: 1,115
Referee: Alan Muir
Motherwell4–0Greenock Morton
[62]
Attendance: 3,167
Referee: Willie Collum
Dumbarton1–4Queen of the South
Crossan 8' [63]
Attendance: 580
Referee: Gavin Duncan
Annan Athletic0–5Greenock Morton
[64]
Attendance: 478
Referee: Steven Reid
Dumbarton0–2Motherwell
[65]
Attendance: 1,394
Referee: Colin Steven
Greenock Morton3–3Queen of the South
[66][67]
Penalties
4–3
Attendance: 1,388
Referee: Steven Kirkland
Motherwell4–0Annan Athletic
[68]
Attendance: 2,763
Referee: Alan Newlands

Group F

[edit]

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification PAR HAM AIR QPA CLY
1 Partick Thistle 4 3 0 1 0 8 5 +3 10 Qualification for the Second Round 1–0 3–2
2 Hamilton Academical 4 2 1 1 0 8 5 +3 9 p2–2 0–0p
3 Airdrieonians 4 1 1 0 2 7 8 −1 5 2–3 p2–2
4 Queen's Park 4 0 2 1 1 4 5 −1 5 1–2 p1–1
5 Clyde 4 0 0 1 3 6 10 −4 1 1–3 2–3
Source: [69]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[4]

Matches

[edit]

Due to pitch works at Hampden Park and Broadwood Stadium, Queen's Park played their home games at the Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie and Clyde played one home match at New Douglas Park in Hamilton[70] and one at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir.[71]

Hamilton Academical0–0Queen's Park
[72][73]
Penalties
5–6
  • soccer ball with check mark Galt
  • soccer ball with check mark Clark
  • soccer ball with check mark Moore
  • soccer ball with red X McGrory
  • soccer ball with check mark Grant
  • soccer ball with check mark Agyeman
  • soccer ball with check mark Block
Attendance: 756
Referee: Nick Walsh
Partick Thistle1–0Airdrieonians
Crighton 66' (o.g.) [74]
Attendance: 2,241
Referee: Grant Irvine
Queen's Park1–2Partick Thistle
Kouider-Aïssa 56' [75]
Attendance: 944
Referee: David Dickinson
Clyde1–3Hamilton Academical
Syvertsen 57' [76]
Attendance: 504
Referee: Euan Anderson
Hamilton Academical2–2Partick Thistle
Cunningham 17', 54' [77][78]
Penalties
6–5
Attendance: 1,693
Referee: John Beaton
Clyde2–3Airdrieonians
Goodwillie 75', 85' (pen.) [79]
Attendance: 858
Referee: Steven McLean
Airdrieonians2–2Queen's Park
[80][78]
Penalties
12–11
  • soccer ball with red X Galt
  • soccer ball with check mark Summers
  • soccer ball with check mark Clark
  • soccer ball with check mark Kouider-Aïssa
  • soccer ball with check mark Purdue
  • soccer ball with check mark Grant
  • soccer ball with check mark Main
  • soccer ball with check mark Moore
  • soccer ball with check mark Agyeman
  • soccer ball with check mark Little
  • soccer ball with check mark Muir
  • soccer ball with check mark Galt
  • soccer ball with red X Summers
Attendance: 645
Referee: Lloyd Wilson
Partick Thistle3–2Clyde
[81]
Attendance: 2,403
Referee: Kevin Graham
Airdrieonians2–3Hamilton Academical
[82]
Attendance: 814
Referee: Gavin Duncan
Queen's Park1–1Clyde
Howie 86' (o.g.) [83][84] Smith 23'
Penalties
  • Kouider-Aïssa soccer ball with check mark
  • Main soccer ball with red X
  • Grant soccer ball with red X
  • Lidouren soccer ball with check mark
  • Clark soccer ball with check mark
  • Martin soccer ball with check mark
  • Summers soccer ball with check mark
5–4
Attendance: 414
Referee: Scott Lambie

Group G

[edit]

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification LIV AYR FAL STR BER
1 Livingston 4 3 1 0 0 10 3 +7 11 Qualification for the Second Round 2–1 5–0
2 Ayr United 4 2 0 1 1 12 5 +7 7 2–1 2–2p
3 Falkirk 4 2 0 1 1 6 3 +3 7 1–1p 1–0
4 Stranraer 4 1 1 0 2 9 5 +4 5 1–2 6–0
5 Berwick Rangers 4 0 0 0 4 0 21 −21 0 0–7 0–3
Source: [85]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[4]

Matches

[edit]
Berwick Rangers0–7Ayr United
[86]
Attendance: 603
Referee: Scott Lambie
Falkirk1–1Livingston
Sammon 90' [87][88] Dykes 36'
Penalties
3–4
Attendance: 2,121
Referee: Alan Muir
Falkirk1–0Stranraer
McManus 9' [89]
Attendance: 1,838
Referee: Chris Fordyce
Livingston2–1Ayr United
[90] Murdoch 51'
Attendance: 1,097
Referee: Willie Collum
Ayr United2–1Falkirk
[91] McManus 42'
Attendance: 1,605
Referee: Barry Cook
Stranraer6–0Berwick Rangers
[92]
Attendance: 247
Referee: Kevin Graham
Berwick Rangers0–3Falkirk
[93]
Attendance: 509
Referee: Steven Kirkland
Stranraer1–2Livingston
Elliott 57' [94]
Attendance: 402
Referee: Craig Napier
Ayr United2–2Stranraer
[95][96] Cummins 42', 86'
Penalties
5–6
Attendance: 1,430
Referee: Grant Irvine
Livingston5–0Berwick Rangers
[97]
Attendance: 692
Referee: Colin Steven

Group H

[edit]

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification DNF ALB STM EKB EDI
1 Dunfermline Athletic 4 3 0 0 1 13 3 +10 9 Qualification for the Second Round 6–0 4–0
2 Albion Rovers 4 2 0 1 1 3 7 −4 7 0–0p 2–1
3 St Mirren 4 1 1 1 1 3 3 0 6 2–3 1–0
4 East Kilbride 4 1 1 0 2 1 5 −4 5 0–1 p0–0
5 Edinburgh City 4 1 0 0 3 2 4 −2 3 1–0 0–1
Source: [98]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[4]

Matches

[edit]
East Kilbride0–1Albion Rovers
[99] Stewart 25'
Attendance: 230
Referee: Steven Reid
St Mirren2–3Dunfermline Athletic
[100]
Attendance: 2,067
Referee: Steven McLean
Dunfermline Athletic6–0Albion Rovers
[101]
Attendance: 1,693
Referee: Lloyd Wilson
St Mirren1–0Edinburgh City
Djorkaeff 88' (pen) [102]
Attendance: 1,235
Referee: Greg Aitken
East Kilbride0–0St Mirren
[103][104]
Penalties
6–5
Edinburgh City1–0Dunfermline Athletic
Handling 87' [105]
Attendance: 1,035
Referee: Grant Irvine
Albion Rovers0–0St Mirren
[106][107]
Penalties
  • Phillips soccer ball with check mark
  • Fotheringham soccer ball with check mark
  • Wharton soccer ball with red X
  • East soccer ball with check mark
  • Osadolor soccer ball with red X
3–4
Attendance: 512
Referee: Barry Cook
Edinburgh City0–1East Kilbride
[108] Brady 71'
Attendance: 208
Referee: David Dickinson
Albion Rovers2–1Edinburgh City
[109] Henderson 62' (pen)
Attendance: 157
Referee: Duncan Williams
Dunfermline Athletic4–0East Kilbride
[110]
Attendance: 1,607
Referee: David Lowe

Best runners-up

[edit]

Pos Grp Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 B Forfar Athletic 4 3 0 0 1 9 4 +5 9 Qualification for the Second Round
2 F Hamilton Academical 4 2 1 1 0 8 5 +3 9
3 E Greenock Morton 4 2 1 0 1 14 8 +6 8
4 A East Fife 4 2 1 0 1 5 3 +2 8
5 G Ayr United 4 2 0 1 1 12 5 +7 7
6 D Inverness Caledonian Thistle 4 2 0 1 1 7 4 +3 7
7 C Alloa Athletic 4 2 0 1 1 8 8 0 7
8 H Albion Rovers 4 2 0 1 1 3 7 −4 7
Source: [111]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[4]

Qualified teams

[edit]
Team Qualified as Qualified on Notes
Heart of Midlothian Group A Winner 27 July 2019
Ross County Group B Winner 24 July 2019 Seeded for the second round
Hibernian Group C Winner 26 July 2019 Seeded for the second round
Dundee Group D Winner 28 July 2019
Motherwell Group E Winner 27 July 2019 Seeded for the second round
Partick Thistle Group F Winner 24 July 2019
Livingston Group G Winner 27 July 2019 Seeded for the second round
Dunfermline Athletic Group H Winner 27 July 2019
Forfar Athletic Best 4 Runners Up 27 July 2019
Hamilton Academical Best 4 Runners Up 27 July 2019
Greenock Morton Best 4 Runners Up 27 July 2019
East Fife Best 4 Runners Up 28 July 2019


References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c