Three SPL clubs were on the receiving end of League Cup defeats to SFL clubs with holders Kilmarnock amongst the casualties.
Following a summer of conflict between the two football authorities culminating in the SFL rejecting attempts to show-horn Sevco into Division One the action switched onto the pitch with Kilmarnock, Hibs and Ross County all losing to lower league opponents.
The pain will be felt hardest at Rugby Park with chairman Michael Johnston facing a season without a visit from Rangers and one route to Hampden closed off.
Winning the trophy last season brought in more than £500,000 to the Kilmarnock coffers but last night’s 2-1 defeat from Stenhousemuir closes one route to Hampden for the season.
After the match Kenny Shiels claimed: “If you look at what happened on Saturday when we were fantastic against Dundee United, we didn’t get much credit and it was all about how poor they were, so I don’t want to come across that way and talk about how poor we were.
“I’d rather give credit to Stenhousemuir than talk about some of the faults in our play. They came here and played really well, were 2-0 up at half-time and it should have been more, and they were better than us and we’re disappointed with the outcome.”
Hibs also reached a Hampden final last season with boss Pat Fenlon blunt in his criticism after last night’s 2-0 defeat at Second Division Queen of the South.
“I’m disgusted by that performance,” the Hibs boss stated. “We have let ourselves down and let down a fair few supporters who have travelled a long way. We just didn’t treat it properly, we didn’t get to the tempo we should have.
“They worked harder and I thought they were very good, they passed it when they had to and turned us round when they had to and just were better than us all round.
“It’s about attitude and application when you come to places like this. If you don’t apply yourselves properly, you will get turned over.”
Former Celt Greig Spence opened the scoring as Raith Rovers won 4-1 away to Ross County.
Rovers boss Grant Murray said: “We knew when the draw was made it would be a difficult game, but I can’t give my players enough credit for the performance they put on tonight.
“We saw they had made changes before the game, but they still had experienced players in their team.
“I thought my players were magnificent. To go that well ahead (Raith were 4-0 up) against an SPL team, it was great for the guys, they truly deserved it.”
Loan Celt James Keating came on as a 51st minute substitute as Hamilton Accies beat Partick Thistle 1-0 after extra-time at New Douglas Park.
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Maybe Celtic should go into administration to get a chance of playing at an obviously more competitive level in the lower divisions. Looks like the ‘diddy’ teams are actually in the top tier.
H H
Lets be honest, as far as cup “holders” go, Kilmarnock had to be amongst the least deserving of all time, and their selfish approach to helping the club which used to be called rangers try to stay in the top flight, regardless of their stealing and cheating for years, sort of puts Killie firmly where the deserve to be. Well done Stenhousemuir!