2026/27 League Cup

Kilmarnock progress with just 2 goals, East Kilbride make unwanted history and the Ayrshire derby returns.

The 2026/27 Premier Sports Cup group stage has concluded, reducing the tournament’s field from 45 teams to just 16.

The five Scottish clubs competing in European football will be joined by the three best runners-up - Dunfermline Athletic, Dundee and Partick Thistle - and the eight group winners: Aberdeen, Dundee United, St Mirren, Ross County, Stenhousemuir, Inverness CT, Ayr United and Kilmarnock.

Premiership sides Falkirk and St Johnstone both fell at the first hurdle after each collecting only seven points from four matches. This article will look briefly at the draw for the next round, after first examining the remarkable group stage records set by Kilmarnock and East Kilbride.

Kilmarnock

Kilmarnock extended the worst penalty-shootout record in Scotland (the world?) when they lost 5-4 to Peterhead following a 0-0 draw. They are the only current club with a shootout win rate below 30%, with their 19% record of four wins from 21 shootouts comfortably the lowest in the country

The all-time penalty shootout record for the 42 SPFL clubs, major competition only.

Despite the shootout defeat, Killie progressed as group winners with one of the most remarkable records in the history of the current format.

There have now been only 11 sides to complete the League Cup group stage without conceding a goal. Kilmarnock account for two of them, becoming the first club to achieve the feat twice - in consecutive seasons as well.

Only 11 sides have come through the League Cup group stage without conceding a goal.

During the same campaign, they also became the lowest-scoring side to progress from the group stage since its introduction in 2016. Killie drew 0-0 with Peterhead and Raith Rovers before recording two 1-0 victories over both Elgin City and Hamilton Academical.

Group winners with just two goals!