Gordon eyeing 'happy ending' at World Cup
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STV News
an hour ago
- STV News
How the groups look as clubs eye place in League Cup second round
There are nine places in the League Cup second round up for grabs as the group stage comes to a close this weekend. Motherwell and Hearts have already booked their places in Sunday's draw along with European qualifiers Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hibernian and Dundee United. The eight group winners qualify for the last 16 along with the three runners-up with the best records. The three group winners with the best records will be seeded in the draw along with the five European qualifiers. Here is the state of play in each group ahead of the finale. Falkirk will secure top spot if they beat Spartans at home. Cove Rangers are only a point behind ahead of their trip to Queen's Park while Spartans will leapfrog the Bairns if they pull off a shock. Falkirk's superior goal difference could help them out if they are held to a draw. It's all to play for in Dingwall as leaders Partick Thistle aim to maintain their 100 per cent record and potentially seal a seeded place in the draw. Ross County need to beat the Jags to move above them, although a draw and shoot-out success could potentially seal a best runners-up spot. Another winner-takes-all encounter takes place at the Albert Bartlett Stadium where Airdrie and Alloa will put their perfect records on the line. A winner would also be in the running for a seeded place. It all comes down to Sunday's game in Paisley where St Mirren need to beat Ayr to claim top spot. A draw would suffice for Scott Brown's side and a win would put them in a strong position to claim a seeded place given their goal difference of 12. Even a defeat could see Ayr progress as best runners-up. They will know exactly what is needed by then. Hearts have put themselves in a commanding position to claim a seeded place given they finished on 12 points and a goal difference of 15. Dunfermline can move on to nine points and will be looking to add to their goal difference of two when they host Stirling, to push for a best runners-up place. St Johnstone are looking to continue their perfect record and boost their goal difference of 5 when they host Elgin. Inverness need to beat Raith Rovers and hope Saints suffer a shock defeat to win the group, but with a goal difference of five, they would be contenders for a best runners-up spot if they win in Kirkcaldy and the hosts get a result in Perth. Motherwell finished on 11 points and still have a slim chance of being among the seeds. Morton and Clyde both have six points and are playing for second place at Cappielow, but a winner would likely need to boost their goal difference significantly in order to qualify for the second round. Kilmarnock will guarantee top spot if they beat second-placed East Fife at home but Livingston are only a point behind ahead of hosting Kelty Hearts. Even fourth-placed Kelty have a chance of topping the group but Livi will also have an eye on a best runners-up spot if Killie slip up and they can find some goals. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Hearts 'can still be better' despite perfect League Cup record
Stephen Kingsley says there' still room for improvement for Hearts despite breezing through the Premier Sports Cup group stage with a 100% record. Derek McInnes' side cruised past Dumbarton on Wednesday night to book their spot in the last 4-0 victory was also the fourth successive match the Tynecastle club scored four goals in the competition. "We've started games well recently, so I think that's a big thing," defender Kingsley said. "We've scored early in every single one of them, so it was important we did that and kick on. "I think we can still improve again. I think we can still be better at times and we can definitely be a bit more clinical, but it's good signs."That's 16 goals in four games that we've played and one goal conceded, so it's a good sign for us going forward."
Scotsman
2 hours ago
- Scotsman
Derek McInnes hails Hearts new boys and warns Sunderland to expect 'proper match'
Jambos ease into Premier Sports Cup last 16 Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Hearts manager Derek McInnes hailed the impact of his new signings after a place in the last 16 of the Premier Sports Cup was secured with a 4-0 win over Dumbarton at Tynecastle. Second half strikes from summer recruits Alexandros Kyziridis and Claudio Braga put the seal on the victory after Lawrence Shankland and Michael Steinwender had netted with headers before the break. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Kyziridis made it two goals in two appearances following his move from MFK Zemplin Michalovce while Braga now has three goals in four games since arriving from Aalesund. Hearts netted four goals in each of their group stages matches to claim maximum 12 points and progress to the next round, almost certainly as one of the seeded teams. And McInnes has been pleased with the contribution of his new attackers. Claudio Braga (second from left) celebrates with James Wilson, Adam Forrester and Blair Spittal after making it 4-0 to Hearts over Dumbarton at Tynecastle. (Photo by Paul Devlin / SNS Group) | SNS Group "Both of them have made a quick start," he said. "Supporters like what they see - as do we. Both boys are desperate to do well. We've made it clear to them that it covers a multitude of sins if you work hard for supporters and the fans need to see that. It's fundamental for all the players. The games coming up will be a big step up from this, both physically and in terms of intensity. But all the new lads can be pleased with their introduction considering we were just back over a month ago." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Hearts new host Sunderland in Craig Gordon's testimonial on Saturday before starting their William Hill Premiership campaign at home to Aberdeen on Monday, August 4. "It's clearly a step up," McInnes said looking ahead to the visit of the Black Cats. "It's a testimonial for Craig and both clubs are here to honour him. At the start and end it will feel like that for Craig, but once the ball rolls it will feel like a proper game. Scotland v England, a Premier League team coming up and thinking back as a player, you would love to pitch yourself against them. I think it will be a really good test for us." Hearts' Alexandros Kyziridis celebrates with James Wilson (L) after making it 3-0 over Dumbarton at Tynecastle. (Photo by Paul Devlin / SNS Group) | SNS Group Shankland headed the opener in the 17th minute from Stephen Kingsley's cross and Michael Steinwender headed home from a corner seconds before the half-time whistle. Scott Tomlinson almost stunned the home support in the opening seconds of the second half when he hit the bar from a tight angle after robbing Kingsley of possession near the corner flag. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But Hearts were soon back in control and Kyziridis scored his second goal in as many games as the winger jinked his way into the box before sending an angled drive just inside the far post. Braga then converted Cammy Devlin's cutback in the 72nd minute to move Hearts on to a goal difference of 11 and ensure they will be the only top-flight side to boast a perfect record in the group stage. Championship Airdrie continued their 100 per cent record with a 2-1 victory over Montrose to move above Alloa on goal difference in Group C. The group, which features already-eliminated Dundee, will be decided on Saturday when Alloa visit Lanarkshire in a winner-takes-all tie. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Diamonds opened the scoring in the 56th minute at Gayfield when Euan Henderson's cross found its way into the net. The visitors doubled their lead six minutes later when Lewis McGrattan knocked the ball home after Henderson was brought down as he looked set to convert the rebound from his own saved shot.
