Brechin City welcome Betfred Group winners Falkirk to Glebe Park in what will be City’s final appearance in this season’s Betfred Cup.

Away defeats to Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Stirling Albion, in conjunction with a bonus point victory over Forfar Athletic means Darren Dods’ men can’t progress beyond the group stages.

Not so for The Bairns though – as they’ve sailed through the group stages with 3 straight wins and a mightily impressive 10-1 aggregate scoreline. And City must beware – because any thoughts that the visitors will be freewheeling for the last game should be dismissed as a victory for Peter Houston’s men will ensure they end the group phase as one of the four best placed winners. The significance of this is that they will then be guaranteed a seeding for the second round, as the competition reverts to a knock-out format.

Falkirk shared a section with City (and Stirling Albion in fact) last season in the inaugural version of this revised League Cup format. A game at The Falkirk Stadium ended in a comfortable 2-0 home victory. Prior clashes over the last decade or so have all been cup ties, and all ending in 2-1 victories for The Bairns. Scottish Cup Ties in Falkirk in February 2015 and January 2006 saw Alan Trouten (penalty) and Charlie King respectively on the scoresheet. This sandwiched a Challenge Cup Tie at The Glebe in July 2011, when David McKenna scored for City, and Falkirk’s first was scored by a certain Darren Dods on his debut. Indeed, you need to go all the way back to a Challenge Cup Tie in 2003 for City’s last victory over The Bairns when a Charlie King strike secured a 1-0 victory at The Glebe. This was also the last season when both teams shared the same league status.

In terms of Brechin City squad news for Saturday’s game, skipper Paul McLean is available for selection again following his suspension for the Stirling Albion game. Gary Fusco, who didn’t make the squad on Tuesday either, is likely to miss out again – along with longer term injury victims Liam Watt and Euan Smith.

Supporters are reminded that, as is the convention now in Cup-Ties, 2017/18 Season Tickets will NOT be valid for this match – but, in an agreement with all the clubs in the Group, admission across every tie is an attractive £10 for adults and £5 for concessions. Under 16's enjoy free entry.

Season Tickets to cover all of Brechin City’s home games for the season ahead in The Ladbrokes Championship will be available for purchase at the Trinity Road entrance. Those who have submitted applications under the "Free Season Tickets for Schoolchildren" Promotion should uplift their Season Tickets prior to the game too.

Supporters of both teams are reminded that free access is available for over-18s to The 1983 Hospitality Lounge (soon to be renamed The City Club) from 1pm through until kick-off, and then again after the final whistle.

Look out too for the latest publication of City’s Matchday Magazine “A View from the Hedge” re-introduced for the new season – and available for sale pre-match at only £2.00.

Betfred Cup-Ties in the Group stages which finish level after 90 minutes will not go to extra time. Instead the game will go straight to a penalty shoot-out, with the winning team securing an extra bonus point to be carried into the group standings. The eight group winners and four best runners up progress to the Second Round of fixtures where they will be joined by Celtic, Aberdeen, Rangers and St Johnstone where the competition reverts to the traditional knockout format on August 8th / 9th.