Viaplay Cup: Caley Thistle drawn with Championship winners Dundee; Peterhead to face Dundee United

Highland League champions Brechin City drawn in same group as Cove Rangers while Elgin City will meet Motherwell.

By Danny Law

June 8 2023, 1:25 pm

David Carson in the thick of the action for Caley Thistle against Dundee. Image: SNS Group

Caley Thistle will renew their rivalry with Dundee when they lock horns in the group stages of the Viaplay Cup.

Billy Dodds’ side and Championship winners Dundee, now managed by Tony Docherty, were drawn in Group E along with Airdrieonians, Dumbarton and Bonnyrigg Rose.

Ross County, one of the top seeds, will face Greenock Morton, FC Edinburgh, Kelty Hearts and Stranraer in Group D.

The Staggies won their group last season despite requiring penalties to overcome Highland League side Buckie Thistle in one of their group matches.

Cove Rangers will meet the Highland League champions Brechin City in Group C. They will be joined by Livingston, Hamilton Accies and Clyde.

🏆 𝗩𝗜𝗔𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗬 𝗖𝗨𝗣 𝗗𝗥𝗔𝗪 🏆

We have been drawn in Group C of the 2023-24 Viaplay Cup alongside:@LiviFCOfficial @acciesfc @ClydeFC @BrechinCityFC

🗓️ Full fixture details will be announced in due course#CRFC

— Cove Rangers FC (@CoveRangersFC) June 8, 2023

Peterhead, gearing up for life in League Two, have been dealt a tough-looking group with Dundee United, Partick Thistle, Falkirk and The Spartans.

Elgin City can look forward to matches against Motherwell, Queen’s Park, Queen of the South and East Fife.

Ross Draper’s side will be hoping to perform better than last season when they finished bottom of the table with zero points from their four matches. It is the second season in a row they have been drawn in the same group as Queen of the South.

The fixtures will be confirmed in due course.

Aberdeen and the other four SPFL clubs who are taking part in European competition (Celtic, Rangers, Hearts and Hibernian) receive a bye to the knockout stages of the competition.

The group stage draw involved the remaining 37 SPFL clubs from 2022/23, plus Highland League champions Brechin City and Lowland League champions The Spartans, who won promotion to the SPFL last month.

Cowdenbeath, relegated from League Two in 2022, were invitated to take the remaining space in this year’s first round group stage.

Celtic’s Callum McGregor lifts the Viaplay Cup. Imge: SNS.

The draw was as follows:

Group A: St Johnstone, Ayr United, Alloa Athletic, Stirling Albion, Stenhousemuir.

Group B: Dundee United, Partick Thistle, Falkirk, Peterhead, The Spartans.

Group C: Livingston, Hamilton Accies, Cove Rangers, Clyde, Brechin City

Group D: Ross County, Greenock Morton, FC Edinburgh, Kelty Hearts, Stranraer.

Group E: Dundee, Caley Thistle, Airdrieonians, Dumbarton, Bonnyrigg Rose.

Group F: Kilmarnock, Raith Rovers, Dunfermline Athletic, Annan Athletic, Albion Rovers.

Group G: Motherwell, Queen’s Park, Queen of the South, East Fife, Elgin City.

Group H: St Mirren, Arbroath, Montrose, Forfar Athletic, Cowdenbeath.

When does it all kick off?

The competition begins on the weekend of July 15-16, with further matchdays on July 18-19, July 22-23, July 25-26 and July 29-30.

The eight group winners and three best runners-up will join European entrants Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian in the last 16 of the competition on the weekend of August 19-20.