Dunfermline

Dunfermline have questioned the sense in including teams from outwith the country in a Scottish national cup competition.

Last year, it was Hearts’ inability to overcome Dunfermline that denied the Tynecastle club the opportunity to escape the group stage of the Betfred League Cup and led to managerial upheaval.

It is far too early in proceedings to get overly excited about individual results, but this is a victory that proved emphatically Ross County’s title credentials.

Furious Fraser Aird has demanded Dundee United stop pleading for precious time to gel – because they should already be in full flight in their quest for promotion.

Dunfermline piled more pressure on United boss Csaba Laszlo as they avenged last season’s play-off elmination at Tannadice.

Having qualified for the knockout stage of the Betfred Cup on goal difference by virtue of Inverness Caledonian Thistle’s five-goal defeat at Tynecastle this afternoon, Partick Thistle face the daunting task of hosting the cup holders Celtic in the last 16.

In a second tier featuring so many former top-flight sides, Thistle and County have their work cut out, writes Andrew Smith

With nine points already safely secured and brimful of confidence after netting seven goals in midweek, Dunfermline were not expected to make such heavy weather of confirming their progress to the knockout stages.

After last night’s incident at Hampden, Craig Fowler reviews the ongoing conflict between Scottish football and the white scavengers which patrol our pitches

Dunfermline will look to build on Sunday’s Group D success at Dundee by securing all three points at Brechin and keep qualification for the knockout stage in their own hands.

Dundee manager Neil McCann offered an honest assessment after seeing his side fall short in their Betfred Cup defeat by Dunfermline.

Mark Durnan has revealed some team-mates have hit the barber’s ahead of today’s clash with Dundee – but he insists Dunfermline have more than just the TV cameras to look sharp for.

There’s nothing quite like a big-name player deciding to come to your side during the summer months. However, sometimes the best deals are those sanctioned for players who originally weren’t perceived to be particularly good signings. In today’s gallery we look back at those who defied the doubters to shine for their new clubs.

Willo Flood has left Dunfermline just nine days after signing a one-year deal at East End Park following his exit from Dundee United.

Seeing as we’re well and truly into silly season, let’s celebrate the summer transfer window (truly the best part of being a football fan, if we’re being honest) by looking back at some of the more surprising transfer rumours from years gone by.

Five Betfred Cup group games will be shown live on BT Sport, two of them involving Hearts.

The first game to be screened will be Kilmarnock v St Mirren on Friday 13 July. Next up is Raith Rovers v Hearts on 21 July, with the game taking place at East Fife’s Bayview due to work at Stark’s Park.

Dundee v Dunfermline on 22 July is also live, as is Clyde v Motherwell on 28 July and Hearts’ v Inverness Caledonian Thistle the following day.

The Irn-Bru Cup will become a complete British and Irish affair after Uefa gave the SPFL approval
to include two teams from England’s Vanarama National League in next season’s knockout competition.

Alex McLeish has paid tribute to Neale Cooper after hearing the news of his friend and former Aberdeen team-mate’s untimely death following a fall yesterday.

Hearts will be up against Tynecastle legend John Robertson in next season’s Betfred Cup after the draw for the group stage paired them with Inverness Caledonian Thistle.