2016–17 Scottish League Cup

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.{{cite web | url=http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/new-league-cup-format-announced/ | title=New League Cup format and TV deal | publisher=SPFL | date=7 December 2015 | access-date=25 April 2016 | archive-date=22 March 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322072242/http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/new-league-cup-format-announced/ | url-status=dead }}

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. 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.

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. 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.

{{Main|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. 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.{{cite web |url=http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/betfred-cup-draw-format-amp-numbers/ |title=Betfred Cup draw format & numbers |publisher=SPFL |date=26 May 2016 |access-date=26 May 2016}}

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.{{cite web |url=http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/betfred-cup-draw-live-on-bt-sport/ |title=Betfred Cup draw live on BT Sport |publisher=SPFL |date=26 May 2016 |access-date=26 May 2016 |archive-date=4 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804125234/http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/betfred-cup-draw-live-on-bt-sport/ |url-status=dead }}

{{:2016–17 Scottish League Cup group stage|transcludesection=Group A}}

{{:2016–17 Scottish League Cup group stage|transcludesection=Group B}}

{{:2016–17 Scottish League Cup group stage|transcludesection=Group C}}

{{:2016–17 Scottish League Cup group stage|transcludesection=Group D}}

{{:2016–17 Scottish League Cup group stage|transcludesection=Group E}}

{{:2016–17 Scottish League Cup group stage|transcludesection=Group F}}

{{:2016–17 Scottish League Cup group stage|transcludesection=Group G}}

{{:2016–17 Scottish League Cup group stage|transcludesection=Group H}}

{{:2016–17 Scottish League Cup group stage|transcludesection=Best runners-up}}

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.{{cite web |url=http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/betfred-cup-r2-draw-on-sunday/ |title=Betfred Cup 2nd-round draw on Sunday |publisher=SPFL |work=spfl.co.uk |date=26 July 2016 |access-date=26 July 2016 |archive-date=29 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729184917/http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/betfred-cup-r2-draw-on-sunday/ |url-status=dead }}

Teams in Bold advanced to the quarter-finals.

;Notes

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

All times are BST (UTC+1).

{{Footballbox collapsible |id="Alloa Athletic v Inverness CT"

|date={{Start date|2016|8|9|df=y}}

|time=19:30

|team1=Alloa Athletic

|score=1–0

|team2=Inverness CT

|goals1=Marr {{goal|28}}

|goals2=

|stadium=Recreation Park

|location=Alloa

|attendance=613

|referee=Don Robertson

|report=[http://spfl.co.uk/league-cup/fixture/3639055/ SPFL Report]

}}

{{Footballbox collapsible |id="Rangers v Peterhead"

|date={{Start date|2016|8|9|df=y}}

|time=19:45

|team1=Rangers

|score=5–0

|team2=Peterhead

|goals1=Kranjčar {{goal|19}}
Hill {{goal|35||56}}
Kelleher {{goal|48|o.g.}}
Dodoo {{goal|65}}

|goals2=Blockley {{sentoff|0|55}}

|stadium=Ibrox Stadium

|location=Glasgow

|attendance=27,076

|referee=Andrew Dallas

|report=[http://spfl.co.uk/league-cup/fixture/3639061/ SPFL Report]

}}

{{Footballbox collapsible |id="Dundee United v Partick Thistle"

|date={{Start date|2016|8|9|df=y}}

|time=19:45

|team1=Dundee United

|score=3–1

|team2=Partick Thistle

|goals1=C Smith {{goal|10||27||30|pen.}}

|goals2=Welsh {{goal|65}}

|stadium=Tannadice Park

|location=Dundee

|attendance=5,036

|referee=Steven McLean

|report=[http://spfl.co.uk/league-cup/fixture/3639058/ SPFL Report]

}}

{{Footballbox collapsible |id="Hamilton Academical v Morton"

|date={{Start date|2016|8|9|df=y}}

|time=19:45

|team1=Hamilton Academical

|score=1–2

|team2=Morton

|goals1=Imrie {{goal|8|pen.}}

|goals2=Forbes {{goal|59}}
Quitongo {{goal|63}}

|stadium=New Douglas Park

|location=Hamilton

|attendance=

|referee=Stephen Finnie

|report=[http://spfl.co.uk/league-cup/fixture/3639059/ SPFL Report]

}}

{{Footballbox collapsible |id="Hibernian v Queen of the South"

|date={{Start date|2016|8|9|df=y}}

|time=19:45

|team1=Hibernian

|score=1–3

|team2=Queen of the South

|goals1=Hanlon {{goal|22}}

|goals2=Dobbie {{goal|66}}
Anderson {{goal|82}}
Dykes {{goal|86}}

|stadium=Easter Road

|location=Edinburgh

|attendance=7,646

|referee=Euan Anderson

|report=[http://spfl.co.uk/league-cup/fixture/3639060/ SPFL Report]

}}

{{Footballbox collapsible |id="Celtic v Motherwell"

|date={{Start date|2016|8|10|df=y}}

|time=19:45

|team1=Celtic

|score=5–0

|team2=Motherwell

|goals1=Rogic {{goal|20||76}}
Dembélé {{goal|34|pen.|64}}
Sinclair {{goal|61}}

|goals2=

|stadium=Celtic Park

|location=Glasgow

|attendance=20,165

|referee=Kevin Clancy

|report=[http://spfl.co.uk/league-cup/fixture/3639057/ SPFL Report]

}}

{{Footballbox collapsible |id="St Johnstone v Heart of Midlothian"

|date={{Start date|2016|8|10|df=y}}

|time=19:45

|team1=St Johnstone

|score=3–2

|team2=Heart of Midlothian

|goals1=Swanson {{goal|10||75|pen.}}
McKay {{goal|80}}

|goals2=Paterson {{goal|43}}
Walker {{goal|45+2|pen.}}

|stadium=McDiarmid Park

|location=Perth

|attendance=4,214

|referee=Crawford Allan

|report=[http://spfl.co.uk/league-cup/fixture/3639062/ SPFL Report]

}}

{{Footballbox collapsible |id="Ayr United v Aberdeen"

|date={{Start date|2016|8|10|df=y}}

|time=19:45

|team1=Ayr United

|score=1–2

|team2=Aberdeen

|goals1=Forrest {{goal|41}}

|goals2=Meggatt{{goal|3|o.g.}}
McGinn {{goal|30}}

|stadium=Somerset Park

|location=Ayr

|attendance=2,653

|referee=Alan Muir

|report=[http://spfl.co.uk/league-cup/fixture/3639056/ SPFL Report]

}}

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.{{cite web |url=http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/betfred-cup-quarter-final-draw-details/ |title=Betfred Cup quarter-final draw details |publisher=SPFL |work=spfl.co.uk |date=9 August 2016 |access-date=9 August 2016}}

Teams in Bold advanced to the semi-finals.

{{Footballbox collapsible |id="Morton v Dundee United"

|date={{Start date|2016|9|20|df=y}}

|time=19:45

|team1=Morton

|score=2–1

|team2=Dundee United

|goals1=Quitongo {{goal|24}}
O'Ware {{goal|31}}

|goals2=van der Velden {{goal|55}}

|stadium=Cappielow

|location=Greenock

|attendance=2,149

|referee=Andrew Dallas

|report=[http://spfl.co.uk/league-cup/fixture/3639077/ SPFL Report]

}}

{{Footballbox collapsible |id="Rangers v Queen of the South"

|date={{Start date|2016|9|20|df=y}}

|time=19:45

|team1=Rangers

|score=5–0

|team2=Queen of the South

|goals1=Holt {{goal|33}}
Halliday {{goal|62}}
Waghorn {{goal|63||71||83}}

|goals2=

|stadium=Ibrox Stadium

|location=Glasgow

|attendance=26,079

|referee=Don Robertson

|report=[http://spfl.co.uk/league-cup/fixture/3639078/ SPFL Report]

}}

{{Footballbox collapsible |id="Celtic v Alloa Athletic"

|date={{Start date|2016|9|21|df=y}}

|time=19:45

|team1=Celtic

|score=2–0

|team2=Alloa Athletic

|goals1=Forrest {{goal|83}}
Dembélé {{goal|90}}

|goals2=

|stadium=Celtic Park

|location=Glasgow

|attendance= 15,900

|referee=Alan Muir

|report=[http://spfl.co.uk/league-cup/fixture/3639076/ SPFL Report]

}}

{{Footballbox collapsible |id="Aberdeen v St Johnstone"

|date={{Start date|2016|9|22|df=y}}

|time=19:45

|team1=Aberdeen

|score=1–0

|team2=St Johnstone

|goals1=Rooney {{goal|90}}

|goals2=

|stadium=Pittodrie Stadium

|location=Aberdeen

|attendance=8,829

|referee=Craig Thomson

|report=[http://spfl.co.uk/league-cup/fixture/3639075/ SPFL Report]

}}

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.{{cite web |url=http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/betfred-cup-semi-final-draw-tonight/ |title=Betfred Cup semi-final draw tonight |publisher=SPFL |work=spfl.co.uk |date=22 September 2016 |access-date=22 September 2016 |archive-date=23 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923075816/http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/betfred-cup-semi-final-draw-tonight/ |url-status=dead }}

Teams in Bold advanced to the final.

{{Footballbox collapsible |id="Morton v Aberdeen"

|date={{Start date|2016|10|22|df=y}}

|time=12:15

|team1=Morton

|score= 0–2

|team2=Aberdeen

|goals1=

|goals2=Rooney {{goal|69}}
McLean {{goal|88}}

|stadium=Hampden Park

|location=Glasgow

|attendance=16,183

|referee=Kevin Clancy

|report=[http://spfl.co.uk/league-cup/fixture/3639099/ SPFL Report]

}}

{{Footballbox collapsible |id="Rangers v Celtic"

|date={{Start date|2016|10|23|df=y}}

|time=14:15

|team1=Rangers

|score=0–1

|team2=Celtic

|goals1=

|goals2=Dembélé {{goal|87}}

|stadium=Hampden Park

|location=Glasgow

|attendance=50,697

|referee=Craig Thomson

|report=[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37721989 BBC Report]

}}

{{Main|2016 Scottish League Cup Final (November)}}

{{Football box

|bg=

|date=27 November 2016

|time=15:00

|team1=Aberdeen

|score= 0–3

|report=[http://spfl.co.uk/league-cup/fixture/3639105/ SPFL Report]

|team2=Celtic

|goals1=

|goals2=Rogic {{goal|16}}
Forrest {{goal|37}}
Dembélé {{goal|64|pen.}}

|stadium= Hampden Park, Glasgow

|attendance=49,629

|referee=John Beaton

}}

{{updated|matches played on 23 October 2016}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{official website|http://spfl.co.uk/league-cup/}}

{{Scottish League Cup seasons}}

{{2016–17 in European football (UEFA)}}

{{2016–17 in Scottish football}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2016-17 Scottish League Cup}}

Category:Scottish League Cup seasons

League Cup

Cup