2016–17 Scottish League Cup

The 2016–17 Scottish League Cup (also known as the Betfred Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the 71st season of Scotland's second-most prestigious football knockout competition.

2016–17 Scottish League Cup
CountryScotland
Dates15 July 2016 – 27 November 2016
Teams44
Defending championsRoss County
ChampionsCeltic
Runners-upAberdeen
Matches played95
Goals scored291 (3.06 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Martyn Waghorn
(7 goals)[1]
All statistics correct as of 27 November 2016.

The format for the 2016–17 competition changed from the previously used knockout-rounds. Instead, it began with eight groups of five teams which included all 2015–16 Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) clubs, excluding those competing in Champions League and Europa League qualifiers, as well as the winners of the 2015–16 Highland Football League (Cove Rangers) and the 2015–16 Lowland Football League (Edinburgh City).

Celtic won the final 3–0 against Aberdeen on 27 November 2016.[2]

Schedule
Round First match date Fixtures Clubs
Group stage16 July 2016[3]8044 → 16
Second round9 August 2016[4]816 → 80
Quarter finals20 September 2016[4]48 → 4
Semifinals22 October 2016[4]24 → 2
Final27 November 2016[5]12 → 1

Format

The competition began with eight groups of five teams. The four clubs competing in the UEFA Champions League (Celtic) and Europa League (Aberdeen, Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian) qualifying rounds were given a bye through to the second round. The 40 teams competing in the group stage consisted of the other nine teams that competed in the 2015–16 Scottish Premiership, nine from the 2015–16 Scottish Championship and all of the teams that competed in the 2015–16 Scottish League One and 2015–16 Scottish League Two, as well as the 2015–16 Highland Football League and the 2015–16 Lowland Football League champions.[3]

The winners of each of the 8 groups, as well as the 4 best runners-up have progressed to the second round (last 16), which will include the four UEFA qualifying clubs.[3] At this stage, the competition reverts to the traditional knock-out format.[3] 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.

Bonus point system

In December 2015, the SPFL announced that alongside the new group stage format, a bonus point system would be introduced to provide greater excitement and increase the number of meaningful games at this stage.[3] The traditional point system of awarding 3 points for a win and 1 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.[3]

Group stage
Main article: 2016–17 Scottish League Cup group stage

The group stage was made up of nine teams from the 2015–16 Scottish Premiership, nine teams from the 2015–16 Scottish Championship and 10 teams from each of the 2015–16 Scottish League One and 2015–16 Scottish League Two, as well as the winners of the 2015–16 Highland Football League and 2015–16 Lowland Football League.[3] The 40 teams were divided into two sections: North and South; with each section containing four top seeded teams, four second seeded teams and 12 unseeded teams. Each section was drawn into four groups with each group being made up of 1 top seed, 1 second seed and 3 unseeded sides.[6]

The draw for the group stages took place on Friday 27 May 2016 at 7:30pm BST at the BT Sport Studio in London and was shown live on BT Sport Europe.[7]

Group A
Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification PET EFI DND FOR DUM
1 Peterhead (Q) 4 2 1 0 1 8 6 +2 8 Qualification for the Second Round — — 2–1 2–0 —
2 East Fife 4 2 1 0 1 5 4 +1 8 2–1 — p1–1 — —
3 Dundee 4 2 0 1 1 15 5 +10 7 — — — 7–0 6–2
4 Forfar Athletic 4 1 1 0 2 4 11 −7 5 — 2–0 — — p2–2
5 Dumbarton 4 0 0 2 2 7 13 −6 2 3–3p 0–2 — — —
Source: SPFL
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated.

Group B
Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification STJ FAL STI BRE ELG
1 St Johnstone (Q) 4 3 0 1 0 11 2 +9 10 Qualification for the Second Round — 3–0 4–0 — —
2 Falkirk 4 2 0 0 2 5 4 +1 6 — — — 2–0 3–0
3 Stirling Albion 4 2 0 0 2 6 7 −1 6 — 1–0 — — 4–1
4 Brechin City 4 1 1 0 2 5 8 −3 5 p1–1 — 2–1 — —
5 Elgin City 4 1 0 0 3 6 12 −6 3 1–3 — — 4–2 —
Source: SPFL
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated.

Group C
Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ICT DUN DNF COW ARB
1 Inverness CT (Q) 4 3 0 1 0 15 3 +12 10 Qualification for the Second Round — 1–1p — — 7–0
2 Dundee United (Q) 4 2 2 0 0 10 3 +7 10 — — 2–0 6–1 —
3 Dunfermline Athletic 4 2 0 0 2 7 7 0 6 1–5 — — — 3–0
4 Cowdenbeath 4 1 0 0 3 4 11 −7 3 1–2 — 0–3 — —
5 Arbroath 4 0 0 1 3 1 13 −12 1 — 1–1p — 0–2 —
Source: SPFL
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated.

Group D
Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ALL RAI ROS COV MON
1 Alloa Athletic (Q) 4 4 0 0 0 10 2 +8 12 Qualification for the Second Round — — 3–2 4–0 —
2 Raith Rovers 4 2 1 0 1 5 4 +1 8 0–1 — — — 2–1
3 Ross County 4 2 0 1 1 11 4 +7 7 — 1–1p — 7–0 —
4 Cove Rangers 4 1 0 0 3 4 13 −9 3 — 1–2 — — 3–0
5 Montrose 4 0 0 0 4 1 8 −7 0 0–2 — 0–1 — —
Source: SPFL
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated.

Group E
Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification PAR QOS AIR QPA STE
1 Partick Thistle (Q) 4 4 0 0 0 9 2 +7 12 Qualification for the Second Round — 2–1 — 2–0 —
2 Queen of the South (Q) 4 3 0 0 1 6 2 +4 9 — — 2–0 — 1–0
3 Airdrieonians 4 1 1 0 2 5 7 −2 5 0–1 — — — 2–1
4 Queen's Park 4 1 0 1 2 5 7 −2 4 — 0–2 p3–3 — —
5 Stenhousemuir 4 0 0 0 4 2 9 −7 0 1–4 — — 0–2 —
Source: SPFL
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated.

Group F
Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification RAN MOT STR ANN EST
1 Rangers (Q) 4 4 0 0 0 10 0 +10 12 Qualification for the Second Round — — 3–0 2–0 —
2 Motherwell (Q) 4 3 0 0 1 9 3 +6 9 0–2 — — — 3–0
3 Stranraer 4 2 0 0 2 5 8 −3 6 — 0–3 — — 3–1
4 Annan Athletic 4 1 0 0 3 4 7 −3 3 — 1–3 1–2 — —
5 East Stirlingshire 4 0 0 0 4 1 11 −10 0 0–3 — — 0–2 —
Source: SPFL
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated.

Group G
Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification HAM AYR STM LIV EDI
1 Hamilton Academical (Q) 4 3 0 0 1 10 5 +5 9 Qualification for the Second Round — — 3–0 2–1 —
2 Ayr United (Q) 4 3 0 0 1 5 2 +3 9 2–1 — — — 1–0
3 St Mirren 4 3 0 0 1 7 5 +2 9 — 1–0 — — 3–0
4 Livingston 4 1 0 0 3 6 7 −1 3 — 0–2 2–3 — —
5 Edinburgh City 4 0 0 0 4 2 11 −9 0 2–4 — — 0–3 —
Source: SPFL
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated.

Group H
Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification GMO KIL CLY ALB BER
1 Morton (Q) 4 3 1 0 0 5 0 +5 11 Qualification for the Second Round — — 1–0 — 2–0
2 Kilmarnock 4 2 0 1 1 5 5 0 7 0–2 — — 0–0p —
3 Clyde 4 1 1 0 2 4 5 −1 5 — 1–2 — — p1–1
4 Albion Rovers 4 0 2 1 1 1 2 −1 5 0–0p — 1–2 — —
5 Berwick Rangers 4 0 0 2 2 3 6 −3 2 — 2–3 — 0–0p —
Source: SPFL
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated.

Best runners-up
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Dundee United (Q) 4 2 2 0 10 3 +7 10 Qualification to the Second Round
2 Motherwell (Q) 4 3 0 1 9 3 +6 9
3 Queen of the South (Q) 4 3 0 1 6 2 +4 9
4 Ayr United (Q) 4 3 0 1 5 2 +3 9
5 Raith Rovers 4 2 1 1 5 4 +1 8
6 East Fife 4 2 1 1 5 4 +1 8
7 Kilmarnock 4 2 1 1 5 5 0 7
8 Falkirk 4 2 0 2 5 4 +1 6
Updated to match(es) played on 30 July 2016. Source: BBC
Rules for classification: 1) Points, 2) goal difference, 3) goals scored, 4) away goals scored, 5) matches won, 6) away matches won, 7) drawing of lots[8]
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated.

Knockout phase

Draw and seeding

The following teams qualified and will compete in the second round of the 2016–17 Scottish League Cup. Aberdeen, Celtic, Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian entered the competition at this stage, after receiving a bye for the group stage due to their participation in UEFA club competitions.

The draw for the second round took place at Tannadice Park following the conclusion of the Dundee United–Dunfermline Athletic match on 31 July, and was shown live on BT Sport. The four UEFA-qualifying clubs and the four group winners with the best record were seeded for the draw.[9]

Teams in Bold advanced to the quarter-finals.

Seeded Unseeded
Notes
  • † denotes teams playing in the Championship.
  • * denotes team playing in League One.

Matches

All times are BST (UTC+1).

9 August 2016 (2016-08-09) Alloa Athletic 1–0Inverness CTAlloa
19:30 Marr  28' SPFL Report Stadium: Recreation Park
Attendance: 613
Referee: Don Robertson
9 August 2016 (2016-08-09) Rangers 5–0PeterheadGlasgow
19:45 Kranjčar  19'
Hill  35', 56'
Kelleher  48' (o.g.)
Dodoo  65'		 SPFL Report Blockley  55' Stadium: Ibrox Stadium
Attendance: 27,076
Referee: Andrew Dallas
9 August 2016 (2016-08-09) Dundee United 3–1Partick ThistleDundee
19:45 C Smith  10', 27', 30' (pen.) SPFL Report Welsh  65' Stadium: Tannadice Park
Attendance: 5,036
Referee: Steven McLean
9 August 2016 (2016-08-09) Hamilton Academical1–2 Morton Hamilton
19:45 Imrie  8' (pen.) SPFL Report Forbes  59'
Quitongo  63'		 Stadium: New Douglas Park
Referee: Stephen Finnie
9 August 2016 (2016-08-09) Hibernian1–3 Queen of the South Edinburgh
19:45 Hanlon  22' SPFL Report Dobbie  66'
Anderson  82'
Dykes  86'		 Stadium: Easter Road
Attendance: 7,646
Referee: Euan Anderson
10 August 2016 (2016-08-10) Celtic 5–0MotherwellGlasgow
19:45 Rogic  20', 76'
Dembélé  34' (pen.), 64'
Sinclair  61'		 SPFL Report Stadium: Celtic Park
Attendance: 20,165
Referee: Kevin Clancy
10 August 2016 (2016-08-10) St Johnstone 3–2Heart of MidlothianPerth
19:45 Swanson  10', 75' (pen.)
McKay  80'		 SPFL Report Paterson  43'
Walker  45+2' (pen.)		 Stadium: McDiarmid Park
Attendance: 4,214
Referee: Crawford Allan
10 August 2016 (2016-08-10) Ayr United1–2 Aberdeen Ayr
19:45 Forrest  41' SPFL Report Meggatt 3' (o.g.)
McGinn  30'		 Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 2,653
Referee: Alan Muir

Draw and seeding

The quarter-final draw took place at Celtic Park following the conclusion of the Celtic–Motherwell match on 10 August, and was shown live on BT Sport. The draw was unseeded and ties scheduled for the midweek of 20/21 September.[10]

Teams in Bold advanced to the semi-finals.

Premiership Championship League One

Matches
20 September 2016 (2016-09-20) Morton 2–1Dundee UnitedGreenock
19:45 Quitongo  24'
O'Ware  31'		 SPFL Report van der Velden  55' Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 2,149
Referee: Andrew Dallas
20 September 2016 (2016-09-20) Rangers 5–0Queen of the SouthGlasgow
19:45 Holt  33'
Halliday  62'
Waghorn  63', 71', 83'		 SPFL Report Stadium: Ibrox Stadium
Attendance: 26,079
Referee: Don Robertson
21 September 2016 (2016-09-21) Celtic 2–0Alloa AthleticGlasgow
19:45 Forrest  83'
Dembélé  90'		 SPFL Report Stadium: Celtic Park
Attendance: 15,900
Referee: Alan Muir
22 September 2016 (2016-09-22) Aberdeen 1–0St JohnstoneAberdeen
19:45 Rooney  90' SPFL Report Stadium: Pittodrie Stadium
Attendance: 8,829
Referee: Craig Thomson

Draw and seeding

The semi-final draw took place at Pittodrie Stadium following the conclusion of the Aberdeen–St Johnstone match on 22 September and was shown live on BT Sport. The draw was unseeded and ties are scheduled for the weekend of 22 October.[4][11]

Teams in Bold advanced to the final.

Premiership Championship

Matches
22 October 2016 (2016-10-22) Morton0–2 Aberdeen Glasgow
12:15 SPFL Report Rooney  69'
McLean  88'		 Stadium: Hampden Park
Attendance: 16,183
Referee: Kevin Clancy
23 October 2016 (2016-10-23) Rangers0–1 Celtic Glasgow
14:15 SPFL Report Dembélé  87' Stadium: Hampden Park
Attendance: 50,697
Referee: Craig Thomson

Final
Main article: 2016 Scottish League Cup Final (November)
Aberdeen0–3Celtic
SPFL Report Rogic  16'
Forrest  37'
Dembélé  64' (pen.)
Attendance: 49,629
Referee: John Beaton

Top goalscorers
As of matches played on 23 October 2016[1]
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Martyn Waghorn Rangers 7
2 Brian Graham Ross County 6
Greg Stewart Dundee
4 Moussa Dembélé Celtic 5
Danny Swanson St Johnstone
6 Scott Boden Inverness CT 4
Andy Geggan Dunfermline Athletic
Blair Henderson Stirling Albion
Rory McAllister Peterhead
Simon Murray Dundee United
Jai Quitongo Morton
Cammy Smith Dundee United
Iain Vigurs Inverness CT

References
  1. "2016 Scottish League Cup scorers". ESPN. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  2. English, Tom (27 November 2016). "Scottish League Cup final: Aberdeen 0-3 Celtic". BBC. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  3. "New League Cup format and TV deal". SPFL. 7 December 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  4. "Betfred Cup group stage fixtures". SPFL. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  5. "2016/17 League Cup Final in November". SPFL. 18 February 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  6. "Betfred Cup draw format & numbers". SPFL. 26 May 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  7. "Betfred Cup draw live on BT Sport". SPFL. 26 May 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  8. "Betfred Cup Format 2016/17". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  9. "Betfred Cup 2nd-round draw on Sunday". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 26 July 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  10. "Betfred Cup quarter-final draw details". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  11. "Betfred Cup semi-final draw tonight". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
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