Dundee lose & St Mirren suffer shootout pain at Arbroath - Scottish League Cup round-up

Steven Pressley suffered home defeat in his competitive debut as Dundee head coach, with Championship side Airdrieonians causing the shock of the opening day of the Premier Sports Cup group stage.

Premiership rivals St Mirren were held to a goalless draw away to League 1 champions Arbroath and missed out on the bonus point by losing the penalty shootout.

Top-flight Motherwell did manage to take an extra point after edging Clyde on spot kicks after drawing 2-2 with their League 2 hosts.

Relegated Ross County lost their shootout after a 1-1 draw away to fourth-tier Stranraer.

But Championship winners Falkirk fired seven goals without reply away to Highland League side Brechin City and there were wins for Premiership rivals Kilmarnock and St Johnstone.

Dylan Tait scored a hat-trick as Falkirk cruised to victory in Brechin.

Summer signing Brian Graham set up fellow veteran Scott Arfield to strike Falkirk's opener and the former Rangers midfielder added the second from the penalty spot.

Midfielder Tait added three more, with winger Alfie Agyeman and forward Ross MacIver adding the others.

In the other group game, League 2 side Spartans came from behind to upset Championship visitors Queen's Park.

Josh Fowler fired the Glasgow side ahead in the first-half, but Bailey Dall headed the second-half equaliser before Cammy Russell grabbed the winner from the penalty spot.

Northern Ireland striker Ronan Hale fired Ross County ahead just before the break against Stranraer, but Tommy Sharp's close-range strike sent the tie into penalties, which the hosts won 6-5.

It means second-tier rivals Partick Thistle lead the group after Friday's 4-1 win away to Edinburgh City.

Goals from Cammy Logan, Robbie Crawford, Logan Chalmers and City's Robbie Mahon gave Mark Wilson the perfect start as permanent head coach before Tiwi Daramola's reply for the League 2 side just before the break.

Player-manager Rhys McCabe set up Chris Mochrie to coolly slot Airdrieonians ahead early on at Dens Park and Dundee were unable to respond.

An early goal also settled the group's other game, Luke Rankin's 35-yard drive giving third-tier Alloa Athletic victory away to Bonnyrigg Rose, who are now back in the Lowland League after relegation.

Both ties in Group D went to spot kicks.

To add to St Mirren's misery as they were held to a goalless draw in Arbroath before losing 4-2 on penalties, captain Mark O'Hara was sent off for a second booking two minutes from full-time.

Meanwhile, Martin Rennie, Forfar Athletic's summer signing from Clyde, headed his side into the lead before hosts Annan Athletic replied through Aidan Smith's second-half penalty, but it was the visitors who prevailed 4-2 in the shootout.

Hamilton Academical, relegated to League 1, scored two second-half goals to ease aside fourth-tier hosts Stirling Albion.

Connor Smith struck and Kyle MacDonald headed in to give League 1 Accies all three points.

Heart of Midlothian are playing Dunfermline Athletic in the evening kick-off.

St Johnstone came from behind to avoid an upset against SPFL newcomers East Kilbride.

The Lowland League champions led through John Robertson's early free-kick, but summer signing Jamie Gullan replied with a set piece of his own and strikes from Adama Sidibeh and Makenzie Kirk secured the points for the Championship visitors.

Meanwhile, midfielder Dylan Easton scored two penalties in Raith Rovers' 5-1 win away to Elgin City.

Jai Rowe, Lewis Vaughan and Josh Mullin grabbed the Championship side's other goals, with Jack Murray replying for the League 2 hosts.

Summer signing James Hilton gave Clyde a shock early lead as he chipped over stranded Motherwell goalkeeper Calum Ward after a defensive mix-up.

Tawanda Maswanhise soon headed the Steelmen level and put the Premiership side ahead after the break, but Liam Scullion nodded the League 2 hosts back on terms only for Well to win the shootout and the bonus point 5-4.

Greenock Morton won 4-2 away to Peterhead.

Cameron Blues, summer signing Kris Moore, Ali Crawford and Zak Delaney scored for the Championship visitors, with Oliver Colloty's penalty and Seb Ross replying for the League 1 side.

Kilmarnock eased to a two-goal win over Highland League champions Brora Rangers in Stuart Kettlewell's first competitive game in charge.

A right-foot shot from 18-year-old defender Ben Brannan gave the Premiership side the half-time lead, with summer signing Djenairo Daniels firing the second 10 minutes from time.

Promoted Livingston also won on the road, 2-1 away to League 2 champions East Fife.

Robbie Muirhead gave the visitors the lead from close range in first-half added time before Hearts loanee Macaulay Tait extended their advantage from similar distance just after the break.

Pat Slattery's goal from outside the area reduced the arrears before East Fife's Mamadou Bah was sent off for a second bookable offence deep into added time.