Betfred Cup city derby will be live on BT

The eagerly-anticipated Betfred Cup Dundee derby will take place on Sunday July 30 at Dens Park, live on BT Sport, kick-off 3pm.

It will be the first occasion the city teams have met since May 2 last year when the Dark Blues won at the same venue to consign United to the drop.

This time round, the men in charge in the opposite dug-outs, Dundee boss Neil McCann and his Tangerines counterpart Ray McKinnon, will be experiencing their first taste of the derby as managers.

Dundee begin their Group C campaign on Tuesday July 18 with a trip to Raith Rovers before Highland League side Buckie Thistle visit Dens the following Saturday. The Dark Blues then travel to Cowdenbeath on Wednesday July 26 before the derby date.

United begin their games by welcoming McKinnon’s former side Raith to Tannadice on Saturday July 15 before the Tangerines travel up to Buckie the following Tuesday night. Then on Sunday July 23, United entertain Cowdenbeath at home.

Elsewhere, in Group A, there is an Angus derby to look forward to with Championship newcomers Brechin City playing another promoted side Forfar at the Glebe on Tuesday July 18.

In Group B, there is a Fife derby between East Fife and Dunfermline on Tuesday July 18 while the Pars’ game at Tynecastle against Hearts on Saturday July 29 will be shown live on BT Sport.

In Group D, there is another all-Angus clash between Arbroath and Montrose on Saturday July 22.

The group stage uses the traditional three points for a win and one point for a draw. However, all drawn matches will go straight to a penalty shoot-out with the winner being awarded a bonus point.

The eight group winners and the four best runners-up progress to the second round when they are joined by the UEFA qualifying clubs and the competition reverts to the traditional knock-out format.