Dee and United to face old foes in group stage

new-look groups that saw United draw at Gayfield and then create another first by winning a bonus point from the penalty shoot-out at the end of the 90 minutes.

Elsewhere in the competition, John Robertson has been handed a return to Tynecastle in the Betfred Cup group stages.

The former Hearts manager and all-time leading goalscorer will take his Inverness side to Gorgie after the teams were paired together in the draw.

Raith Rovers join them in Group C, which also throws up a swift rematch between Cowdenbeath and Highland League champions Cove Rangers following their bad-tempered play-off encounter.

Recent winners Kilmarnock and St Mirren will face each other at Rugby Park. Newly-promoted St Mirren, who replaced Killie as the holders in 2013, went into the draw as second seeds and will also take on Dumbarton, Queen’s Park and Spartans.

The other all-Premiership tie will see Hamilton take on Livingston in a group that also includes Accies’ Lanarkshire rivals, Airdrie, along with Annan and Berwick.

Last season’s runners-up Motherwell will take on Queen of the South, Clyde, Edinburgh City and Stranraer while St Johnstone were pulled out of the hat along with Falkirk, Montrose, East Fife and Forfar. The group games take place over three weekends and two midweeks starting on July 14.

Dundee face Peterhead again where they were beaten 2-1 two years ago.