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The 2023–24 Scottish League Cup, also known as the Viaplay Cup for sponsorship reasons, was the 78th season of Scotland's second-most prestigious football knockout competition.
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | Scotland |
| Dates | 15 July – 17 December 2023 |
| Teams | 45 |
| Defending champions | Celtic |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Rangers (28th title) |
| Runner-up | Aberdeen |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 95 |
| Goals scored | 287 (3.02 per match) |
| Attendance | 359,464 (3,784 per match) |
| Top goal scorer(s) | Simon Murray (7 goals) |
Celtic were the two-time defending champions, but were eliminated in the second round by Kilmarnock.
Rangers won their 28th Scottish League Cup beating Aberdeen 1–0 in the final.
The competition began with eight groups of five teams.[2] The five clubs initially competing in the UEFA Champions League (Celtic and Rangers), Europa League (Aberdeen) and Europa Conference League (Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian) received a bye to the second round. The group stage consisted of 40 teams: all remaining teams that competed across the SPFL in 2022–23, the 2022–23 Highland Football League champions (Brechin City) and 2022–23 Lowland Football League champions (The Spartans). Unlike previous seasons where the remaining group stage spot was given to the runners-up of the Highland League or Lowland League, Cowdenbeath – who finished 15th in the Lowland League, having been relegated from Scottish League Two in 2022 – accepted an invitation to participate.[2]
The winners of each of the eight groups, as well as the three best runners-up, progressed to the second round (last 16). At this stage, the competition reverted to the traditional knock-out format. The three group winners with the highest points total and the European entrants were seeded.
Bonus point system
The traditional point system of awarding three points for a win and one point for a draw was used. In addition, 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]
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The teams were seeded according to their final league positions in 2022–23 and drawn into eight groups, with each group comprising one team from each pot. The draw for the group stage took place on 8 June 2023 and was broadcast live on Viaplay & the SPFL YouTube channel.[2]
Group A
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | AYR | STI | STJ | STE | ALL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ayr United | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | +8 | 11 | Qualification for the second round | — | — | — | 1–0 | 6–0 | |
| 2 | Stirling Albion | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 3 | +6 | 10 | 1–1p | — | — | 2–1 | — | ||
| 3 | St Johnstone | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 3 | 1–2 | 0–4 | — | — | — | ||
| 4 | Stenhousemuir | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 3 | — | — | 1–0 | — | 1–3 | ||
| 5 | Alloa Athletic | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 13 | −9 | 3 | — | 1–2 | 0–4 | — | — |
Group B
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | PAR | FAL | DUN | SPA | PET | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Partick Thistle | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 9 | Qualification for the second round | — | 2–2p | — | 2–1 | — | |
| 2 | Falkirk | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 8 | — | — | 0–1 | — | 4–1 | ||
| 3 | Dundee United | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 6 | 1–2 | — | — | — | 3–0 | ||
| 4 | The Spartans | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 6 | — | 1–2 | 1–0 | — | — | ||
| 5 | Peterhead | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 10 | −7 | 1 | 1–1p | — | — | 1–2 | — |
Group C
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | LIV | HAM | COV | BRE | CLY | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Livingston | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 1 | +9 | 10 | Qualification for the second round | — | 1–1p | — | — | 1–0 | |
| 2 | Hamilton Academical | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 9 | — | — | 2–2p | 1–0 | — | ||
| 3 | Cove Rangers | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 11 | −1 | 8 | 0–5 | — | — | — | 5–2 | ||
| 4 | Brechin City | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 8 | −4 | 3 | 0–3 | — | 2–3 | — | — | ||
| 5 | Clyde | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 11 | −7 | 0 | — | 1–3 | — | 1–2 | — |
Group D
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | ROS | GMO | KEL | STR | EDI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ross County | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 6 | +7 | 10 | Qualification for the second round | — | 2–1 | 3–3p | — | — | |
| 2 | Greenock Morton | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 4 | +7 | 9 | — | — | — | 3–0 | 4–1 | ||
| 3 | Kelty Hearts | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 9 | +2 | 8 | — | 1–3 | — | 2–0 | — | ||
| 4 | Stranraer | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 11 | −8 | 3 | 1–5 | — | — | — | 2–1 | ||
| 5 | Edinburgh City | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 14 | −8 | 0 | 1–3 | — | 3–5 | — | — |
Group E
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | AIR | DND | DUM | ICT | BON | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Airdrieonians | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | +5 | 12 | Qualification for the second round | — | 1–0 | 2–0 | — | — | |
| 2 | Dundee | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 9 | — | — | 3–1 | 1–0 | — | ||
| 3 | Dumbarton | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 5 | — | — | — | 2–1 | p0–0 | ||
| 4 | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 3 | 2–3 | — | — | — | 2–1 | ||
| 5 | Bonnyrigg Rose | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | — | — | — |
Group F
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | KIL | RAI | DNF | ALB | ANN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kilmarnock | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 3 | +6 | 10 | Qualification for the second round | — | 2–2p | — | — | 3–0 | |
| 2 | Raith Rovers | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 9 | — | — | 1–1p | 2–0 | — | ||
| 3 | Dunfermline Athletic | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 8 | 0–2 | — | — | — | 4–0 | ||
| 4 | Albion Rovers | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 3 | 1–2 | — | 0–3 | — | — | ||
| 5 | Annan Athletic | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 12 | −9 | 0 | — | 2–3 | — | 1–2 | — |
Group G
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | MOT | QOS | EFI | QPA | ELG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motherwell | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 | +6 | 11 | Qualification for the second round | — | — | 3–0 | 1–0 | — | |
| 2 | Queen of the South | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 8 | 3–3p | — | 0–0p | — | — | ||
| 3 | East Fife | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 7 | — | — | — | p0–0 | 3–1 | ||
| 4 | Queen's Park | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 4 | — | 1–2 | — | — | 5–0 | ||
| 5 | Elgin City | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 12 | −11 | 0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | — | — |
Group H
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | STM | FOR | ARB | MON | COW | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Mirren | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 1 | +8 | 9 | Qualification for the second round | — | 4–0 | 4–0 | — | — | |
| 2 | Forfar Athletic | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 9 | — | — | 3–1 | — | 1–0 | ||
| 3 | Arbroath | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 5 | — | — | — | 3–0 | p1–1 | ||
| 4 | Montrose | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 5 | 1–0 | 1–2 | — | — | — | ||
| 5 | Cowdenbeath | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 2 | 0–1 | — | — | 1–1p | — |
Best runners-up
| Pos | Grp | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | Stirling Albion | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 3 | +6 | 10 | Qualification for the second round |
| 2 | D | Greenock Morton | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 4 | +7 | 9 | |
| 3 | F | Raith Rovers | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 9 | |
| 4 | C | Hamilton Academical | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 9 | |
| 5 | E | Dundee | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 9 | |
| 6 | H | Forfar Athletic | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 9 | |
| 7 | B | Falkirk | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 8 | |
| 8 | G | Queen of the South | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 8 |
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Second round
Draw and seeding
Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian entered the competition at this stage, due to their participation in UEFA club competitions. They joined the three group winners with the best records as the eight seeded sides. The other five group winners and the three best runners up were the unseeded sides.[2]
Teams in bold advanced to the quarter-finals.
Matches
| 18 August 2023 | Stirling Albion | 1–2 | Aberdeen | Stirling |
| 19:45 |
|
[14] | Stadium: Forthbank Stadium Attendance: 2,943 Referee: David Munro |
| 19 August 2023 | Rangers | 2–1 | Greenock Morton | Glasgow |
| 12:30 | [15] | Gillespie  53' (pen.) |
Stadium: Ibrox Stadium Attendance: 38,943 Referee: David Dickinson |
| 19 August 2023 | Airdrieonians | 3–4 (a.e.t.) | Ross County | Airdrie |
| 15:00 | [16] | Stadium: Excelsior Stadium Attendance: 1,631 Referee: Steven McLean |
| 19 August 2023 | Livingston | 2–0 | Ayr United | Livingston |
| 15:00 | [17] | Stadium: Almondvale Stadium Attendance: 1,304 Referee: Kevin Clancy |
| 19 August 2023 | St Mirren | 1–0 | Motherwell | Paisley |
| 15:00 |
|
[18] | Stadium: St Mirren Park Attendance: 5,241 Referee: Willie Collum |
| 20 August 2023 | Hibernian | 2–1 | Raith Rovers | Edinburgh |
| 14:00 | [19] |
|
Stadium: Easter Road Attendance: 8,674 Referee: Nick Walsh |
| 20 August 2023 | Heart of Midlothian | 4–0 | Partick Thistle | Edinburgh |
| 14:00 | [20] | Stadium: Tynecastle Park Attendance: 12,841 Referee: John Beaton |
| 20 August 2023 | Kilmarnock | 1–0 | Celtic | Kilmarnock |
| 15:00 |
|
[21] | Stadium: Rugby Park Attendance: 8,002 Referee: Alan Muir |
Quarter-finals
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The draw took place on Sunday 20 August 2023 following the Kilmarnock v Celtic match live on Viaplay Sports 1.[22]
Teams in bold advanced to the semi-finals.
| 26 September 2023 | Kilmarnock | 1–2 | Heart of Midlothian | Kilmarnock |
| 19:45 |
|
[23] | Stadium: Rugby Park Attendance: 6,014 Referee: Steven McLean |
| 27 September 2023 | Hibernian | 4–2 | St Mirren | Edinburgh |
| 19:45 | [24] | Stadium: Easter Road Attendance: 9,982 Referee: David Munro |
| 27 September 2023 | Ross County | 1–2 | Aberdeen | Dingwall |
| 19:45 | [25] | Stadium: Victoria Park Attendance: 4,637 Referee: John Beaton |
| 27 September 2023 | Rangers | 4–0 | Livingston | Glasgow |
| 20:00 | [26] | Stadium: Ibrox Stadium Attendance: 35,420 Referee: Willie Collum |
Semi-finals
The draw took place on Wednesday 27 September 2023 following the Rangers v Livingston match live on Viaplay Sports 1.[27]
Teams in bold advanced to the final.
| 4 November 2023 | Hibernian | 0–1 | Aberdeen | Glasgow |
| 17:15 | [28] |
|
Stadium: Hampden Park Attendance: 28,295 Referee: John Beaton |
| 5 November 2023 | Heart of Midlothian | 1–3 | Rangers | Glasgow |
| 15:00 | [29] | Stadium: Hampden Park Attendance: 44,734 Referee: Nick Walsh |
Final
| 17 December 2023 | Rangers | 1–0 | Aberdeen | Glasgow |
| 15:00 |
|
Stadium: Hampden Park Attendance: 49,296 Referee: Don Robertson |
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The domestic broadcasting rights for the competition are held exclusively by Viaplay Sports, who will broadcast between 12 and 16 live matches per season, as well as highlights.[30]
The following matches were broadcast live on UK television:
| Round | Date | Match |
|---|---|---|
| Group stage | 15 July 2023 | Raith Rovers v Dunfermline Athletic[31] |
| 18 July 2023 | Dundee United v Partick Thistle[31] | |
| 22 July 2023 | Motherwell v Queen's Park[31] | |
| 25 July 2023 | Falkirk v Dundee United[31] | |
| 30 July 2023 | Dundee v Inverness Caledonian Thistle[31] | |
| Second round | 19 August 2023 | Rangers v Greenock Morton[32] |
| 20 August 2023 | Kilmarnock v Celtic[32] | |
| Quarter-Finals | 26 September 2023 | Kilmarnock v Heart of Midlothian[33] |
| 27 September 2023 | Rangers v Livingston[33] | |
| Semi-Finals | 4 November 2023 | Hibernian v Aberdeen[34] |
| 5 November 2023 | Heart of Midlothian v Rangers[34] | |
| Final | 17 December 2023 | Rangers v Aberdeen[35] |
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