2019–20 Scottish League Cup

The 2019–20 Scottish League Cup (also known as the Betfred Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the 74th season of Scotland's second-most prestigious football knockout competition.

2019–20 Scottish League Cup
CountryScotland
Dates12 July – 8 December 2019
Teams44
Defending championsCeltic
ChampionsCeltic
Runners-upRangers
Matches played95
Goals scored298 (3.14 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Florian Kamberi
Kevin Nisbet
(5 goals)
All statistics correct as of 8 December 2019.

The format for the 2019–20 competition was the same as the previous three seasons.

It began with eight groups of five teams which included all 2018–19 Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) clubs, excluding those competing in Champions League and Europa League qualifiers, as well as the winners of the 2018–19 Highland Football League (Cove Rangers) and the 2018–19 Lowland Football League (East Kilbride).

Schedule
Round First match date Fixtures Clubs
Group stage13 July 2019[1]8044 → 16
Second round16 August 2019[1]816 → 80
Quarter finals24 September 2019[1]48 → 4
Semi finals2 November 2019[1]24 → 2
Final8 December 2019[1]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 (Rangers, Kilmarnock, and Aberdeen) qualifying rounds were given a bye through to the second round. The 40 teams competing 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 includes 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 are 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.[2] The traditional point system of awarding three points for a win and one point for a draw is used, however, for each group stage match that finishes in a draw, a penalty shoot-out takes place, with the winner being awarded a bonus point.

Group stage
Main article: 2019–20 Scottish League Cup group stage

The group stage was made up of eight teams from the 2018–19 Scottish Premiership, and all ten teams from each of the 2018–19 Scottish Championship, 2018–19 Scottish League One and 2018–19 Scottish League Two, as well as the winners of the 2018–19 Highland Football League and 2018–19 Lowland Football League. The 40 teams were divided into two sections – North and South – with each section containing four top seeds, four second seeds and 12 unseeded teams. Each section was drawn into four groups with each group comprising one top seed, one second seed and three unseeded teams.

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

Group A
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]

Group B
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: [5]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[6]

Group C
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: [7]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[8]

Group D
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: [9]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[10]

Group E
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: [11]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[12]

Group F
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: [13]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[14]

Group G
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: [15]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[16]

Group H
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: [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.[18]

Best runners-up
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: [19]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[20]

Knockout phase

Draw and seeding

The draw for the second round took place on 28 July 2019 at the conclusion of the Dundee-Inverness Caledonian Thistle match.[21] Aberdeen, Celtic, Kilmarnock and Rangers entered the competition at this stage, after receiving a bye for the group stage due to their participation in UEFA club competitions.

The four UEFA-qualifying clubs and the four group winners with the best record were seeded for the draw.

Teams in Bold advanced to the quarter-finals.

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

Matches
16 August 2019 Motherwell1–2 Heart of Midlothian Motherwell
19:45 Long  60' [22]
Stadium: Fir Park
Attendance: 5,597
Referee: Bobby Madden
17 August 2019 Hibernian 5–3 (a.e.t.)Greenock MortonEdinburgh
15:00
[23]
Stadium: Easter Road
Attendance: 6,557
Referee: Alan Muir
17 August 2019 Partick Thistle 3–2 (a.e.t.)Ross CountyGlasgow
15:00
[24]
Stadium: Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 2,053
Referee: Steven McLean
17 August 2019 Celtic 2–1 (a.e.t.)Dunfermline AthleticGlasgow
15:00
[25] Beadling  77' Stadium: Celtic Park
Attendance: 27,318[26]
Referee: John Beaton
17 August 2019 Forfar Athletic1–2 Livingston Forfar
15:00 Hilson  63' [27]
Stadium: Station Park
Attendance: 884
Referee: Gavin Duncan
17 August 2019 Kilmarnock 1–0 (a.e.t.)Hamilton AcademicalKilmarnock
15:00 Thomas  113' [28] Stadium: Rugby Park
Attendance: 3,762
Referee: Kevin Clancy
18 August 2019 Dundee1–2 (a.e.t.) Aberdeen Dundee
15:00 Johnson  43' [29]
Stadium: Dens Park
Attendance: 5,740
Referee: Willie Collum
18 August 2019 East Fife0–3 Rangers Methil
15:00 [30]
Stadium: Bayview Stadium
Attendance: 1,991
Referee: Don Robertson

Draw

Teams in Bold advanced to the semi-finals.

Premiership Championship

Matches
25 September 2019 Celtic 5–0Partick ThistleGlasgow
19:45
[31] Stadium: Celtic Park
Attendance: 25,008
Referee: Steven McLean
25 September 2019 Kilmarnock0–0 (a.e.t.)
(4–5 p)		 Hibernian Kilmarnock
19:45 [32][33] Stadium: Rugby Park
Attendance: 4,780
Referee: Willie Collum
Penalties
25 September 2019 Heart of Midlothian 2–2 (a.e.t.)
(3–0 p)		AberdeenEdinburgh
19:45
[34][35] Cosgrove  12' (pen.), 31' (pen.) Stadium: Tynecastle Park
Attendance: 12,866
Referee: Kevin Clancy
Penalties
25 September 2019 Livingston0–1 Rangers Livingston
19:45 [36] Kamara  5' Stadium: Almondvale Stadium
Attendance: 8,160
Referee: Don Robertson

Draw

Teams in Bold advanced to the final.

Teams in Italics were not known at the time of the draw.

Teams Involved

Matches
2 November 2019 Hibernian2–5 Celtic Glasgow
17:30
[37]
Stadium: Hampden Park
Attendance: 46,782
Referee: Bobby Madden
3 November 2019 Rangers 3–0Heart of MidlothianGlasgow
15:00
[38] Stadium: Hampden Park
Attendance: 49,310
Referee: John Beaton

Final
Main article: 2019 Scottish League Cup Final
8 December 2019 Rangers 0–1 Celtic Glasgow
15:00 [39] Jullien  60' Stadium: Hampden Park
Attendance: 51,117
Referee: Willie Collum

Media coverage

The domestic broadcasting rights for the competition are held exclusively by BT Sport.

The following matches were broadcast live on UK television:

Round Date Match
Group Stage 12 July 2019 Heart of Midlothian v Dundee United[40]
14 July 2019 St Mirren v Dunfermline Athletic[40]
19 July 2019 Motherwell v Greenock Morton[40]
21 July 2019 St Johnstone v Ross County[40]
26 July 2019 Elgin City v Hibernian[40]
28 July 2019 Dundee v Inverness Caledonian Thistle[40]
Second Round 16 August 2019 Motherwell v Heart of Midlothian[41]
18 August 2019 East Fife v Rangers[41]
Quarter-finals 25 September 2019 Livingston v Rangers[42]
Semi-finals 2 November 2019 Hibernian v Celtic[43]
3 November 2019 Rangers v Heart of Midlothian[43]
Final 8 December 2019 Rangers v Celtic[44]

References
  1. "Betfred Cup draw on Tuesday". SPFL. 27 May 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  2. "New League Cup format and TV deal". SPFL. 7 December 2015. Archived from the original on 22 March 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  3. "Summary - League Cup Group A". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  4. "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  5. "Summary - League Cup Group B". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  6. "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  7. "Summary - League Cup Group C". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  8. "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  9. "Summary - League Cup Group D". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  10. "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  11. "Summary - League Cup Group E". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  12. "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  13. "Summary - League Cup Group F". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  14. "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  15. "Summary - League Cup Group G". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  16. "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  17. "Summary - League Cup Group H". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  18. "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  19. "Summary - League Cup Group Stage". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  20. "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  21. "Betfred Cup draw on Sunday". SPFL. 25 July 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  22. Mullen, Scott (16 August 2019). "Motherwell 1–2 Hearts: Smith & Washington earn League Cup last eight spot". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  23. Lamont, Alasdair (17 August 2019). "Hibernian 5–3 Greenock Morton (AET): Hosts salvage last eight League Cup place". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  24. Crawford, Kenny (17 August 2019). "Partick Thistle 3–2 Ross County (AET): Steven Saunders the hero for hosts". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  25. Duncan, Thomas (17 August 2019). "Celtic 2–1 Dunfermline: Forrest strike edges holders into League Cup quarter-finals". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  26. https://www.skysports.com/football/celtic-vs-dunfmline/419065
  27. McLauchlin, Brian (17 August 2019). "Forfar Athletic 1–2 Livingston: Visitors advance to League Cup last eight". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  28. Young, Chick (17 August 2019). "Kilmarnock 1–0 Hamilton Academical (AET): Dom Thomas goal puts hosts into quarter-final". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  29. McLauchlin, Brian (18 August 2019). "Dundee 1–2 Aberdeen (AET): Sam Cosgrove's goal puts Dons into quarter-final". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  30. Watt, Martin (18 August 2019). "East Fife 0–Rangers: Filip Helander nets as visitors reach last eight". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  31. Idessane, Kheredine (25 September 2019). "Celtic 5-0 Partick Thistle". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  32. "Kilmarnock 0-0 Hibernian". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  33. "Betfred Cup Results". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  34. "Heart of Midlothian 2-2 Aberdeen". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  35. "Betfred Cup Results". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  36. "Livingston 0-1 Rangers". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  37. McLauchlin, Brian (2 November 2019). "Hibernian 2-5 Celtic". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  38. McLauchlin, Brian (3 November 2019). "Rangers 3-0 Heart of Midlothian". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  39. English, Tom (8 December 2019). "Rangers 0-1 Celtic: Neil Lennon's side win fourth straight Scottish League Cup". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  40. "BETFRED CUP ON BT SPORT". SPFL. 8 July 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  41. "BETFRED CUP R2 DETAILS". SPFL. 31 July 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  42. "BETFRED CUP QUARTER-FINAL DETAILS". SPFL. 20 August 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  43. "BETFRED CUP SEMI-FINAL DETAILS". SPFL. 27 September 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  44. "2019/20 BETFRED CUP FINAL". SPFL. 4 November 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
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