Andy Ryan forces new Partick Thistle goalkeeper David Crawford into a save with a drive.

Arbroath give debuts to former Forfar Athletic forward Omar Kader, ex-Airdrieonians striker Bryan Prunty, defender Colin Hamilton, who has arrived from Alloa Athletic, former Raith Rovers midfielder Ryan McCord, ex-Stirling Albion forward Steven Doris and on-loan Aberdeen goalkeeper Robbie Mutch. On the bench are former Forfar pair Michael Dunlop and Gavin Malin along with goalkeeper Ricky Gomes, previously of Atletico Club Malveira.

New United manager Ray McKinnon gives a start to defender Lewis Toshney, who has followed him from Raith Rovers, and former Rangers goalkeeper Cammy Bell, midfielder Stewart Murdoch, previously of Ross County, and former Kilmarnock forward Tope Obadeyi, but on-loan Aberdeen forward Cammy Smith is on the bench.

Arbroath: Mutch, Whatley, Phillips, Little, Hamilton, McCord, Kader, Scott, Prunty, Doris, Linn. Subs: Malin, Dunlop, Gold, Callaghan, Thomson, Hester, Gomes.

Dundee United: Bell, Dixon, Donaldson, Toshney, Spittal, Murdoch, Murray, Fraser, Obadeyi, Telfer, Souttar. Subs: Zwick, Robson, Coote, Anier, Johnson, Smith, Dillon.

We are off at Gayfield after a minute's silence for the latest tragedy in France and Arbroath are immediately in attack.

The new League Cup format hasn't introduced too much excitement at Excelsior Stadium so far!

In a bid to add excitement, the Scottish Professional Football League has decided that all drawn games in the League Cup group stage will go straight to a penalty shoot-out. The shoot-out winners receive two points and the losers one point.

Ross County are the current holders of the League Cup after their Hampden victory over Hibernian in March. 

Liam Fontaine equalised after Michael Gardyne's opener, but Alex Schalk was the hero in the last minute for the Highlanders.

Image source, SNS

The last six finals have witnessed six different winners of the trophy, and 11 finalists in total. 

2016: Ross County 2-1 Hibernian

2015: Celtic 2-0 Dundee United

2014: Aberdeen 0-0 Inverness CT (4-2 on pens)

2013: St Mirren 3-2 Heart of Midlothian

2012: Kilmarnock 1-0 Celtic

2011: Rangers 2-1 Celtic

Rudi Skacel is training with Raith Rovers, the former Hearts and Dundee United midfielder having been released after making only two appearances last season for Mlada Boleslav in his native Czech Republic's top flight. But there is no place for the 36-year-old tonight as he has not signed as yet.

Manager Gary Locke gives debuts to former winger Chris Johnston and defender Kevin McHattie, both coming from Kilmarnock, winger Bobby Barr, previously of Greenock Morton, while on-loan Aberdeen goalkeeper Aaron Lennox is on the bench, but there is no debut yet for Jean-Yves M'voto, the defender previously of Zawisza Bydgoszcz.

Cove Rangers give debuts to two summer signings - Mitch Megginson, the striker released by Alloa Athletic, and midfielder Ryan Stott, who returns to the Highland League club after a two-year sabbatical from the game. Cove are hoping that Megginson will compensate for the loss of Daryl Nicol, last season's top scorer, who emigrated to Australia

"I was an advocate of the new format, but after having a few injuries, it is causing us a few problems.

"Airdrie are full-time and are good opposition."

Cove Rangers: McKenzie, Redford, Lawrie, Yule, Walker, Kelly, Scully, Burnett, Megginson, Smith, Stott. Subs: Park, Watson, Duff, Milne, Donaldson, McCulloch, McCafferty.

Raith Rovers: Cuthbert, Thomson, McHattie, Callachan, Bendictus, Johnson, Vaughan, Barr, Matthews, Davidson, Stewart. Subs: Opoku-Berchie, Coustrain, Bates, McKay, Berry, Lennox.

Kevin McBride, the former Dundee and Hibs midfielder, is in charge of Airdrieonians tonight as manager Eddie Wolecki Black continues to recover from a stroke. The Diamonds ended the League One season with former St Mirren boss Danny Lennon in temporary charge, but first-team coach McBride has taken over for the start of this campaign.

Airdrieonians first-team coach Kevin McBride gives competitive debuts to four of his summer signings - midfielder Ryan Conroy, midfielder and striker Iain Russell, both previously of Queen of the South, forward Andy Ryan, previously of Forfar Athletic and defender Joe Gordman, who arrived from Maidenhead United. Former Athlone Town midfielder and Kevin Schmidt, the forward previously of Lowland League club East Kilbride, are on the bench.   

Partick Thistle today signed David Crawford on a short-term deal with first-choice goalkeeper Tomas Cerny ruled out through injury and deputy Ryan Scully having picked up a thigh strain. And the 31-year-old, who was released by Alloa Athletic after only playing 12 times for the side relegated from the Championship last season, goes straight into the starting line-up.

Ziggy Gordon also starts after the right-back's summer switch from Hamilton Accies, as do former Inverness Caledonian Thistle defender Danny Devine and midfielder Chris Erskine, who is back at Firhill after leaving Dundee United.

But Ade Azeez, the former Wimbledon striker, and former Kilmarnock defender David Syme are on the bench. 

Image source, SNS

Airdrieonians: Ferguson, Stewart, McIntosh, Gorman, MacDonald, Conroy, Brown, Fitzpatrick, Ryan, McLaughlin, Russell. Subs: Kerr, Faria, Daly, Schmidt, Higgins, Truesdale, Cairns.

Partick Thistle: Crawford, Booth, Welsh, Lindsay, Doolan, Erskine, Lawless, Devine, Wilson, McDaid, Gordon. Subs: Cullen, Azeez, Edwards, Syme, Nisbet, Penrice, Pogba.

Cove Rangers are actually hosting tonight's game at Forfar Athletic's Station Park. A few Raith Rovers supporters probably hoped they had paid more attention to the news as they would have passed the venue on their way to Aberdeen!

We are 15 minutes away from kick-off in the first game, as League One outfit Airdrieonians host Partick Thistle from the Premiership in Group E.

Quarter of an hour later, League Two's Arbroath kick off against Championship side Dundee United in Group C, while Highland League outfit Cove Rangers host another second-tier side, Raith Rovers, in Group D.