Hamilton Accies boss welcomes three home games in League Cup but not Cove Rangers clash

Three home games await Hamilton Accies in the Viaplay League Cup after they were drawn in the same group as ground sharing Clyde.

The Bully Wee, who play in League Two, are tenants at New Douglas Park and the sides will meet in the opening game of Group C on July 15, after the draw for the competition was made at Hampden last week.

Premiership side Livingston, Highland League Brechin City and fellow League One side Cove Rangers make up the group.

Reacting to the draw, Accies boss John Rankin said: "It's a draw that strangely enough gives us three home ties, with Clyde being in there, but we are looking forward to it.

"It gives the supporters an early chance to see the players we have brought in and let's them see how we will compete.

"I'm really looking forward to it.

"Last season we put together some good performances in that competition and fell short by a goal in the end, so hopefully we can put in some good performances again to get us ready for that league campaign.

"I'm not too keen on playing a league rival.

"We played Queen's Park and Dundee in the League Cup last season so having had that experience of playing the same team five times in one season isn't ideal.

"But it will be two completely different Cove and Hamilton teams to the ones that faced each other last season.

"It does give us an early opportunity to look at one of our opponents for the rest of the season, but is more about taking the opportunity to get our players to gel and that's what we'll focus on."

Accies fixtures are as follows:

July 15 - Clyde (A), 3pm

July 18 - Brechin (H), 7.45pm

July 22 - Livingston (A), 3pm

July 29 - Cove Rangers (H), 3pm

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