The slow but noticeable growing influence of women in Scottish football continues this morning with the appointment of Clare Whyte as the SFA's new compliance officer.

She takes over from Tony McGlennan and, should there be any controversial off-the-ball incidents this weekend or other misdemeanors, the former procurator fiscal depute will lay down the law.

Before leaving, McGlennan had introduced a new system of having a panel of former referees to form an independent panel to make decisions should the new compliance officer pass any cases its way.

Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson tells BBC Scotland: "Two poor results, not two poor performances. The cup last year kicked us on, kick-started our season and kept it nice and positive and, of course, that's what we're looking to do again today.

"We've been desperate to get Elliot Frear back on the pitch and he has a chance to shine today."

Asked about Livingston's pitch, Robinson simply says: "I won't be using that as an excuse."

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Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald tells BBC Scotland: "We decided to sit off them. We didn't think we had the legs to deal with their pace.

"We got a lift with the goal, but we switched off twice in the last 15 minutes, which killed us.

"If it had gone to extra-time, it was going to be a worry with that extra sub. We didn't have much on the bench and [Andrea] Mbuyi-Mutombo was dead on his feet.

"The young lads equipped themselves well. Today wasn't our cup tie.

"Next week is more important trying to get promotion."

Scottish League One

Dumbarton v Arbroath

Forfar Athletic v Stranraer

Montrose v Brechin City

Raith Rovers v East Fife

Stenhousemuir v Airdrieonians

Scottish League Two

Albion Rovers v Elgin City

Annan Athletic v Queen's Park

Cowdenbeath v Berwick Rangers

Edinburgh City v Stirling Albion

Peterhead v Clyde

Kenny Crawford
BBC Sport Scotland at Almondvale

Motherwell winger Chris Cadden doesn't feature in the match-day because of a dead leg that's not fully healed. It means he won't get the chance to play against brother Nicky, who's on the bench for Livingston.

Striker Danny Johnson and wingers Elliott Frear and Alex Gorrin come in to the starting line-up for the Steelmen. Allan Campbell and Conor Sammon drop to the bench.

Livi stick with the same side that drew 0-0 with Killie.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers on BT Sport: "As a manager, I’m experienced enough now that you filter a lot of the noise that goes on.

"At a club like Celtic, you have to win and we didn’t do that. You always in football have the opportunity to come back again and we did that today in terms of the result.

"In terms of the performance - because I've always been very focused on performance - it wasn’t very good."

Rodgers also talked about Celtic's hopes of further signings.

"It’s very simple in that we’ve had a couple of targets we haven’t been able to get," he said. "But I’ve always had a very, very good relationship with the board and that’s the same, even though some people will try to dismantle that.

"We want to improve the team and we’ve got 'til the end of August to do that. If we don't, I work with the talented players we have here."

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Queen of the South: Martin, Mercer, Marshall, Fordyce, Doyle, Stirling, Jacobs, Dobbie, Semple, Harkings, Dykes.

Substitutes: Tremble, Exley, Watson, Murray, Bell, Leighfield, Gourlay.

St Johnstone: Clark, Tanser, Alston, Shaughnessy, Wright, Davidson, Kerr, Foster, Craig, Watt, Kennedy.

Substitutes: Mitchell, McMillan, McCann, McClean, Scougall, Hendry, Gordon.

Striker Benjamin Kallman's arrival at Dundee is being hailed as a bit of a coup for manager Neil McCann, but the striker on loan from Inter Turku starts on the bench.

Two changes for the Dee as Paul McGowan drops out for Adil Nabi in midfield and up front Craig Wighton replaces Sofien Moussa, who drops to the bench. Glen Kamara returns from a foot injury but is also among the substitutes.

Ayr manager Ian McCall makes seven changes to the side that lost to Queen's Park on penalties in the Irn-Bru Cup midweek. Top scorer Lawrence Shankland, who Dundee were interested in signing, starts in attack.

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Livingston player-manager Kenny Miller tells BBC Scotland: "It's a great opportunity to test ourselves against a well-established Premier League club.

"Motherwell have had great success in the cups in the last few years, but it's a great chance to progress as well with a home tie.

"We're moving in the right direction. It's a strong squad. I've had a lot of tough decisions over the last few weeks."

Albanian winger Egli Kaja starts and Miller has been delighted with his progression so far.

"He's started great," he said. "He's a player whose got that energy, pace, can dribble, can put defenders on the back foot. I'm sure will only get better and stronger."

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Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland at East End Park

With Hearts having such a strong start to their season, it’s no surprise the Tynecastle club have sold out their 4,700 allocation for this Betfred Cup tie at East End Park.

Last week's victory against champions Celtic will have increased the expectation levels of winning silverware this season, but they will not find things easy against Dunfermline.

Allan Johnston’s side knocked Hearts out of this competition last season with then manager Ian Cathro shown the door just days after.

The Pars boss says his priority is to try and lead the club back into the top flight of Scottish football, but they want to breed a winning mentality at East End Park and he says they want to take another major scalp and progress in the tournament.

James Wilson will have to wait to make his Dons debut after arriving on loan from Manchester United this week. The striker is not in the squad for today's match.

Derek McInnes makes one change from the side that beat Dundee last weekend, with Scott Wright replacing Sam Cosgrove up front.

St Mirren are unchanged from their defeat at Ibrox on Sunday, but Southampton loanee Alfie Jones could make his debut from the bench.

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Allan Preston
BBC Scotland summariser

Young David clearly not thrilled by the prospect of watching Aberdeen host St Mirren...

Dunfermline Athletic manager Allan Johnston: "It was a chance for some of the young players to play in midweek against Inverness and they did well, but we have brought the boys back in.

"Hearts have brought in some quality players and it'll be a difficult game for us and it will completely different from last year.

"Obviously the league's priority and we want to be playing teams like Hearts every week, but hopefully we can cause an upset."

It's an entirely new Dunfermline starting XI from the team that knocked holders Inverness Caledonian Thistle out of the Challenge Cup in midweek up in the Highlands as they look to knock Hearts out of the League Cup for a second year running.

Two changes for in-form Hearts from their raucous victory over Celtic seven days ago. Captain Christophe Berra begins a six-month lay-off having torn a hamstring in the win. His place in central defence is taking by veteran Aaron Hughes.

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Kyle Lafferty, who scored the only goal against the champions, remains a Hearts player despite ongoing talks with Rangers over a potential transfer to Ibrox. He drops to the bench with Steven Maclean joining Uche Ikpeazu up front.

Arnaud Djoum is still working his way back from a long-term absence and Jamie Brandon and Marcus Godinho are still sidelined by knee injuries.

Cristian Gamboa has contributed two assists and plenty of searing drives up the right flank this afternoon. Goalscorer Andrea Mbuyi-Mutombo has put in a fine shift for Thistle.

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Dunfermline Athletic: Robinson, Ashcroft, Durnan, Devine, Williamson, Vincent, L Longridge, Craigen, J Longridge, El Bakhtaoui, Hippolyte.

Substitutes: Gill, Higginbotham, Connolly, Ryan, Smith, Thomson, Morrison.

Hearts: Zlamal, Smith, Hughes, Souttar, Garuccio, Haring, Lee, Mulraney, Naismith, Ikpeazu, Maclean.

Substitutes: Doyle, Bozanic, Lafferty, Cochrane, McDonald, Burns, Morrison.

Dundee: Hamilton, Ralph, Kusunga, Ngwatala, Mendy, Nabi, Madianga, Meekings, Curran, Spence, Wighton

Substitutes: Parish, Kerr, Caulker, Kamara, Moussa, Kallman, Lambert

Ayr United: Doohan, Geggan, Harvie, Adams, Rose, Kerr, Murdoch, Forrest, Crawford, Moffat, Shankland

Substitutes: Hare-Reid, Bell, Ferguson, McDaid, McGuffie, Moore, Smith

It was all rather straightforward in the end, but it took an equaliser by Andrea Mbuyi-Mutombo to sting Celtic into action late on.

Moussa Dembele and Tom Rogic replied quickly to add to Leigh Griffiths' first-half strike and send the holders into tomorrow's draw.

That little wobble from Brendan Rodgers' side comes to an end and they end a run of three games without a win - and two on the bounce.

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