# 2022–23 Scottish League Cup group stage

The 2022–23 Scottish League Cup group stage was played from 9 July to 24 July 2022. A total of 40 teams competed in the group stage. The winners of each of the eight groups, as well as the three best runners-up progressed to the second round (last 16) of the 2022–23 Scottish League Cup.

## Format

The format for the 2022–23 competition was similar to the previous six seasons, however, unlike previous seasons, the group stage was not regionalised. The competition began with eight groups of five teams. The five clubs competing in the UEFA Champions League (Celtic and Rangers), Europa League (Heart of Midlothian) and Europa Conference League (Dundee United and Motherwell) qualifying rounds received a bye to the second round. The group stage consisted of 40 teams: all remaining teams that competed across the SPFL in 2021–22, and the 2021–22 Highland Football League champions (Fraserburgh) and runners-up (Buckie Thistle), and the 2021–22 Lowland Football League champions (Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic).
The winners of each of the eight groups, as well as the three best runners-up, progressed to the second round (last 16). At this stage, the competition reverted to the traditional knock-out format. The three group winners with the highest points total and the European entrants were seeded.
The traditional point system of awarding three points for a win and one 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.
The draw for the group stage took place on 25 May 2022 and was broadcast live on FreeSports & the SPFL YouTube channel.

## Teams

The teams were seeded according to their final league positions in 2021–22 and drawn into eight groups, with each group comprising one team from each pot.

### Seeding

Teams in Bold qualified for the second round.
| Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 | Pot 5 |
| 01. Ross County 02. Livingston 03. Hibernian 04. St Mirren 05. Aberdeen 06. St Johnstone 07. Dundee 08. Kilmarnock | 09. Arbroath 10. Inverness Caledonian Thistle 11. Partick Thistle 12. Raith Rovers 13. Hamilton Academical 14. Greenock Morton 15. Ayr United 16. Dunfermline Athletic | 17. Queen of the South 18. Cove Rangers 19. Airdrieonians 20. Montrose 21. Queen's Park 22. Alloa Athletic 23. Falkirk 24. Peterhead | 25. Clyde 26. Dumbarton 27. East Fife 28. Kelty Hearts 29. Forfar Athletic 30. Annan Athletic 31. Edinburgh 32. Stenhousemuir | 33. Stranraer 34. Stirling Albion 35. Albion Rovers 36. Elgin City 37. Cowdenbeath 38. Bonnyrigg Rose 39. Fraserburgh 40. Buckie Thistle |
Source:

## Group stage

All times are BST (UTC +1).

### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | ABE | STI | RAI | DUM | PET |
| 1 | Aberdeen | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | +12 | 12 | Qualification for the second round | — | — | 3–0 | 2–0 | — |
| 2 | Stirling Albion | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 7 | −1 | 8 | | 0–5 | — | — | — | 3–0 |
| 3 | Raith Rovers | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 6 | | — | 1–1p | — | — | 6–0 |
| 4 | Dumbarton | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 4 | | — | 1–2 | 0–0p | — | — |
| 5 | Peterhead | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 13 | −13 | 0 | | 0–2 | — | — | 0–2 | — |

#### Matches
### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | PAR | KIL | STE | MON | FRA |
| 1 | Partick Thistle | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 4 | +5 | 11 | Qualification for the second round | — | — | — | 4–2 | 2–0 |
| 2 | Kilmarnock | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 3 | +8 | 10 | Qualification for the second round | 1–1p | — | 4–1 | — | — |
| 3 | Stenhousemuir | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 6 | +1 | 6 | | 1–2 | — | — | — | 3–0 |
| 4 | Montrose | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 11 | −5 | 3 | | — | 0–3 | 0–2 | — | — |
| 5 | Fraserburgh | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 12 | −9 | 0 | | — | 1–3 | — | 2–4 | — |

#### Matches
### Group C

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | ROS | DNF | ALL | EFI | BUC |
| 1 | Ross County | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | +10 | 11 | Qualification for the second round | — | 1–0 | — | 7–0 | — |
| 2 | Dunfermline Athletic | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 2 | +6 | 7 | | — | — | 1–1p | — | 5–0 |
| 3 | Alloa Athletic | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 7 | | 0–2 | — | — | p1–1 | — |
| 4 | East Fife | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 12 | −8 | 4 | | — | 0–2 | — | — | 3–2 |
| 5 | Buckie Thistle | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 13 | −9 | 1 | | 1–1p | — | 1–4 | — | — |

#### Matches
### Group D

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | FAL | GMO | HIB | BON | CLY |
| 1 | Falkirk | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 10 | Qualification for the second round | — | — | 1–0 | — | 1–0 |
| 2 | Greenock Morton | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 7 | | 0–0p | — | — | 3–1 | — |
| 3 | Hibernian | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 6 | | — | 0–3 | — | — | 5–0 |
| 4 | Bonnyrigg Rose | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 9 | −4 | 4 | | 1–1p | — | 1–4 | — | — |
| 5 | Clyde | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 3 | | — | 2–0 | — | 1–2 | — |
* ↑ Greenock Morton were awarded a technical 3−0 win over Hibernian, who fielded an ineligible player. The match had originally finished 1–1, with Greenock Morton securing the bonus point following a 3–1 win on penalties.

#### Matches
##### Notes

* ^ A: Greenock Morton were awarded a technical 3−0 win over Hibernian, who fielded an ineligible player. The match had originally finished 1–1, with Greenock Morton securing the bonus point following a 3–1 win on penalties.

### Group E

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | ARB | AIR | STM | EDI | COW |
| 1 | Arbroath | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | +9 | 12 | Qualification for the second round | — | 3–0 | — | — | 3–0 |
| 2 | Airdrieonians | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 7 | | — | — | 2–0 | 1–1p | — |
| 3 | St Mirren | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 6 | | 0–1 | — | — | 3–1 | — |
| 4 | Edinburgh | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 7 | −1 | 5 | | 1–3 | — | — | — | 3–0 |
| 5 | Cowdenbeath | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 11 | −11 | 0 | | — | 0–3 | 0–2 | — | — |

#### Matches
### Group F

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | ANN | QOS | STJ | AYR | ELG |
| 1 | Annan Athletic | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 10 | Qualification for the second round | — | — | — | p1–1 | 4–0 |
| 2 | Queen of the South | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 8 | Qualification for the second round | 2–3 | — | p2–2 | — | — |
| 3 | St Johnstone | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 8 | | 0–0p | — | — | 1–0 | — |
| 4 | Ayr United | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | −1 | 4 | | — | 0–3 | — | — | 3–0 |
| 5 | Elgin City | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 13 | −11 | 0 | | — | 0–2 | 2–4 | — | — |
* ↑ Ayr United were awarded a technical 3−0 win over Elgin City, who fielded an ineligible player. The match had originally finished 0–0, with Ayr United securing the bonus point following a 4–3 win on penalties.

#### Matches
##### Notes

* ^ B: Ayr United were awarded a technical 3−0 win over Elgin City, who fielded an ineligible player. The match had originally finished 0–0, with Ayr United securing the bonus point following a 4–3 win on penalties.

### Group G

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | ICT | LIV | COV | ALB | KEL |
| 1 | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | +6 | 11 | Qualification for the second round | — | — | p1–1 | 4–0 | — |
| 2 | Livingston | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 9 | Qualification for the second round | 1–2 | — | — | — | 2–0 |
| 3 | Cove Rangers | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | −1 | 4 | | — | 1–2 | — | — | 2–3 |
| 4 | Albion Rovers | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 9 | −4 | 3 | | — | 2–3 | 1–2 | — | — |
| 5 | Kelty Hearts | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | −4 | 3 | | 0–1 | — | — | 0–2 | — |

#### Matches
### Group H

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | DND | HAM | QPA | FOR | STR |
| 1 | Dundee | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 2 | +11 | 12 | Qualification for the second round | — | 3–0 | — | 5–1 | — |
| 2 | Hamilton Academical | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 8 | | — | — | p1–1 | — | 5–2 |
| 3 | Queen's Park | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 6 | +5 | 7 | | 1–2 | — | — | 4–1 | — |
| 4 | Forfar Athletic | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 12 | −7 | 3 | | — | 0–3 | — | — | 3–0 |
| 5 | Stranraer | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 16 | −12 | 0 | | 0–3 | — | 2–5 | — | — |
* ↑ Forfar Athletic were awarded a technical 3−0 win over Stranraer, who fielded an ineligible player. The match had originally finished 2–2, with Forfar Athletic securing the bonus point following a 5–3 win on penalties.

#### Matches
##### Notes

* ^ C: Forfar Athletic were awarded a technical 3−0 win over Stranraer, who fielded an ineligible player. The match had originally finished 2–2, with Forfar Athletic securing the bonus point following a 5–3 win on penalties.

## Best runners-up

| Pos | Grp | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | B | Kilmarnock | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 3 | +8 | 10 | Qualification for the second round |
| 2 | G | Livingston | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 9 | Qualification for the second round |
| 3 | F | Queen of the South | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 8 | Qualification for the second round |
| 4 | H | Hamilton Academical | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 8 | |
| 5 | A | Stirling Albion | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 7 | −1 | 8 | |
| 6 | C | Dunfermline Athletic | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 2 | +6 | 7 | |
| 7 | D | Greenock Morton | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 7 | |
| 8 | E | Airdrieonians | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 7 | |

## Qualified teams

| Team | Qualified as | Qualified on | Notes |
| Annan Athletic | Group F winner | 19 July 2022 | |
| Partick Thistle | Group B winner | 23 July 2022 | |
| Ross County | Group C winner | 23 July 2022 | |
| Falkirk | Group D winner | 23 July 2022 | |
| Arbroath | Group E winner | 23 July 2022 | Seeded for second round draw |
| Inverness Caledonian Thistle | Group G winner | 23 July 2022 | |
| Dundee | Group H winner | 23 July 2022 | Seeded for second round draw |
| Kilmarnock | Best runner-up | 23 July 2022 | |
| Livingston | Best runner-up | 23 July 2022 | |
| Aberdeen | Group A winner | 24 July 2022 | Seeded for second round draw |
| Queen of the South | Best runner-up | 24 July 2022 | |

## Top goalscorers

    As of 24 July 2022
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Conor Sammon | Alloa Athletic | 4 |
| 1 | Alex Jakubiak | Dundee | 4 |
| 1 | Oli Shaw | Kilmarnock | 4 |
| 1 | Jonah Ayunga | St Mirren | 4 |
| 5 | 17 players | 17 players | 3 |
Source: