HOLDERS Celtic will face Ross County in the Betfred League Cup last-16 while last season’s beaten Finalists Rangers will travel to Falkirk.
The ballot was held at Easter this evening after Hibs’ 4-1 win over Championship outfit Dundee. Remarkably, they were paired with each other half-an-hour later.
Neil Lennon’s men will almost certainly have the tie switched to Sunday, November 29 as they are scheduled to play Sparta Prague in the Europa League Group H encounter in the Czech Republic the previous Thursday evening.
The clubs met in September in the Premiership and the champions enjoyed a convincing 5-0 success in Dingwall. They faced each other twice in the east end of Glasgow last term and the homesters won twice, scoring nine goals in the process – a 6-0 victory in October and a 3-0 success in January.
The Hoops go into the tie aiming to win the silverware for the FIFTH consecutive season.
Celtic’s four consecutive triumphs in the competition have come against Aberdeen 3-0 to get the ball rolling in 2016, with Motherwell beaten 2-0 a year later, then the Dons again 1-0 and last season Christopher Jullien got the winner against Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox side in another grand finale.
There are two intriguing all-Premiership confrontations with St Mirren due to welcome Aberdeen while Motherwell will host St Johnstone.
FULL DRAW:
CELTIC v Ross County
Falkirk v Rangers
Livingston v Ayr United
St Mirren v Aberdeen
Hibs v Dundee
Arbroath v Dunfermline
Motherwell v St Johnstone
Alloa v Hearts
Ties due on weekend November 28/29
