Betfred Cup fixtures revealed for Hearts, Hibs and Edinburgh City

Hearts face two midweek trips to the north-east of Scotland, while Hibs will take on Ross County on a Friday night after the Betfred Cup group-stage fixtures were revealed.

The Betfred Cup group stages commence on Saturday, July 15. Pic: SNS

Hearts are in Group B for the first round and will start off their campaign on Tuesday, July 18 away at Elgin (7.45pm kick-off). They then host East Fife at Tynecastle on Saturday, July 22 (3pm) before returning north to play Peterhead on Tuesday, July 25 (8pm). They conclude their group with a home match against Dunfermline on Saturday, July 29 (3pm, live on BT Sport).

Hibs start Group D with a home match against Montrose on Saturday, July 15 (3pm). They then travel to Dingwall on Friday, July 21 to play Ross County (7.45pm, live on BT Sport) before hosting Arbroath on Tuesday, July 25 at 7.45pm. Their final match is away at Alloa on Saturday, July 29 (3pm).

Edinburgh City are in Group F and commence with a tie at home to Berwick Rangers on Tuesday, July 18 at 7.45pm, which will be their first competitive fixture using Ainslie Park as a home ground. They then travel to Hampden to play Queen’s Park on Saturday, July 22 (3pm) before hosting Motherwell on Tuesday, July 25 (7.45pm). Their last group match is away at Morton on Saturday, July 29 (3pm).

The group stage will use the traditional three points for a win and one point for a draw mode. However, all drawn matches will go straight to a penalty shoot-out, whereby the winner of the penalty shoot-out will be awarded a bonus point.

The eight group winners and four best runners-up progress to the second Round, when they are joined by Celtic, Aberdeen, Rangers and St Johnstone and the competition reverts to traditional knock-out format.