Court rivals Hearts and Raith Rovers square off in Betfred Cup

The Championship pair have been drawn in Group A along with Inverness, Cowdenbeath and East Fife

Published 10th Aug 2020

Court rivals Hearts and Raith Rovers will face each other on the pitch in the Betfred Cup group stages.

Rovers became embroiled in the legal action Hearts raised in a failed bid to avoid relegation and the Scottish Championship pair have been drawn in Group A along with Inverness, Cowdenbeath and East Fife.

Tayside rivals Dundee United and St Johnstone will meet in the only all-Premiership tie of the group stages with Lowland League champions Kelty Hearts also in Group C along with Peterhead and Brechin.

A Renfrewshire derby between St Mirren and Morton is another highlight with the pair in Group G, which also features a Glasgow derby between Partick Thistle and Queen's Park.

St Mirren manager Jim Goodwin hopes fans will be allowed back in grounds ahead of the visit of the Greenock side.

Goodwin said: "Obviously the one that sticks out for the supporters is the Morton one, a local derby, a good rivalry between the clubs. There are other decent teams in the group as well.

"I have had some good experiences as a player, I always enjoyed the encounters. They have often been in the Renfrewshire Cup that we used to have as a pre-season tournament with them.

"We were barely in the same league but when we did play they were always tasty games and always a great atmosphere.

"Hopefully come the time of that game there will be some fans back in the stadiums and I'm sure that's one that both sets of supporters will look forward to.''

Highland League champions Brora Rangers will take on both Hibernian and Dundee in Group B.

The first round of games will take place on October 6 with ties taking place during the international breaks in that month and November.

The eight group winners and four best runners-up will be joined in the last 16 by European qualifiers Celtic, Rangers, Motherwell and Aberdeen.

Group A: Hearts, Inverness, Cowdenbeath, Raith Rovers, East Fife.

Group B: Hibernian, Dundee, Forfar, Brora Rangers, Cove Rangers.

Group C: St Johnstone, Dundee United, Peterhead, Brechin, Kelty Hearts.

Group D: Ross County, Arbroath, Elgin, Stirling, Montrose.

Group E: Kilmarnock, Dunfermline, Clyde, Dumbarton, Falkirk.

Group F: Hamilton, Ayr, Stranraer, Albion Rovers, Annan.

Group G: St Mirren, Morton, Queen of the South, Partick Thistle, Queen's Park.

Group H: Livingston, Alloa, Stenhousemuir, Airdrieonians, Edinburgh City.