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.

Group A

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.

Group B

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.

Group C

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.

Group D

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.

Group E

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.

Group F

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.

Group G

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.

Group H

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.