Craig Levein
Former Dundee Utd manager on BBC Sportsound

Nothing exciting happening so far at Tannadice...

It may just be Allan McGregor's testimonial, after over 500 appearances for Rangers, but this has the feel of a big-time European night here at Ibrox.

A throwback to the old derbies with Celtic as well, given the entire Broomloan Road stand has been turned black and white by the 8,000-strong Toon Army up from the north east of England.

The rest of the stadium is red, white and blue with Ibrox completely sold out. There's a new front pairing of Lammers and Sima to get the home crowd excited, while United's big summer signing is also on display, all £52m worth of Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali.

And we're off across the country...

Four days into the new season and already there's pressure mounting on Jim Goodwin after Saturday's shock defeat to Spartans.

Who'd be a manager? Patrick Thistle boss Kris Doolan, whose side travel to Dundee United tonight, sympathises with Goodwin.

"That’s unfortunately the business we’re in," Doolan told BBC Scotland.

"You see managers come under pressure so quickly when squads are still half-built."

Image source, SNS

Dundee have also been busy in the transfer market today, signing midfielder Malachi Boateng on loan from Crystal Palace.

The 21-year-old - who has penned a season-long deal from the Premier League side - spent last term at Queen's Park, where he played 41 times for the Championship club.

"From my experience last season playing against Dundee, I could see that it's a club with good players and great fans," Boateng said.

"I think I'm ready to make the step up and that’s why I came back up here, to show everyone that I'm ready."

Manager Tony Docherty added that Dundee are "extremely impressed" with the "technical ability and physicality" of Boateng, who is on the bench tonight.

"He is a real technician," Docherty says. "He's good on the ball and has a wide range of passing. We know we’ve got a real player on our hands."

For the eighth year in a row, the tournament begins with a 40-team, eight-group first round, wherein teams play each other once.

The group winners and three best runners-up progress to the round of 16, to be joined with holders Celtic and Scotland's other European representatives Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibs and Rangers.

For round one, 37 SPFL teams are joined by two from the Lowland League - Albion Rovers and Cowdenbeath - and Highland League Brechin City.

Liam Kelly's remarkable run of featuring in 112 consecutive Motherwell games has come to an end tonight.

The keeper hasn't missed a single minute since he signed for the club in January 2021.

What an effort. Debutant Aston Oxborough replaces the captain between the sticks tonight.

Image source, SNS

A bit earlier today, Dundee United announced the signing of former Motherwell striker Louis Moult on a one-year deal.

The 31-year-old scored 50 goals in a successful first spell at Fir Park, but injuries plagued the forward's career south of the border after his departure from Lanarkshire in 2018.

Moult re-joined Motherwell on loan last term from Burton, who released him this summer, but his second stint was curtailed mid-season due to more fitness issues.

United boss Jim Goodwin has "no doubt" that the striker "will be invaluable" for his side this campaign.

"We are absolutely delighted to bring someone with Louis’ quality," he added.

"He is a proven goalscorer. It’s an area of the squad we have been looking to strengthen and we hope it’s a signing that will excite the fans."

Moult is on the bench for tonight's Viaplay Cup group game against Partick Thistle.

Image source, SNS

Queen of the South manager Marvin Bartley tells BBC Scotland he is "massively looking forward to the game" tonight.

"We've got six or seven academy boys involved in a game they may not have been if this was in three or four weeks," he adds.

"We're trying to recruit still and we're being patient with it. We'll probably add another three or four going forward. I think maybe only one player's left the football club that we tried to keep.

"These are the games we want to test ourselves with. The biggest thing today is getting a good performance."

Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell tells BBC Sportsound: "We're the favourites in this group and we're happy to handle that tag. But we know we're in for a difficult night.

"I'm happy with what I've got [in the squad]. But we're still a few short. We'd love to go and get another three in the building. To get through the full campaign you need options to freshen up your team."

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Four debutants feature in Dundee's first starting XI of the 2023-24 season.

Norwich loanee Jon McCracken is goal, while new captain Joe Shaughnessy and Owen Beck are in defence.

Former Partick Thistle forward Scott Tiffoney also starts in the first competitive game of the Tony Docherty era.

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell has stuck to his promise of continuing to play youth at Palmerston tonight.

Teenager Lennon Miller keeps his place after his goalscoring performance on Saturday at Elgin, while 17-year-old forward Mark Ferrie is handed a first start.

New signing Pape Souare is also brought into the starting line-up, along with Ricki Lamie, Paul McGinn and keeper Aston Oxborough, who is making his debut.

Shane Blaney, Ewan Wilson, Luca Ross and Conor Wilkinson all drop out.