Craig Fowler selects his Betfred Cup Team of the Tournament, with James Forrest among those included after scoring in Sunday’s final.
GK - Craig Gordon (Celtic)
One of the few Celtic players to feature in all four ties, Gordon gets himself into this team largely because of his incredible save in the final. Motherwell had given as good as they got and had Louis Moult equalised with a header they might have fancied their chances of pulling off an upset. Gordon stopped that with one of the best pieces of reactionary goalkeeping you are likely to see.
DC - Cedric Kipre (Motherwell)
The group stage provided Kipre with the platform to announce himself to the Motherwell faithful, having been signed as a relative unknown during the summer. He excelled enough to earn a contract extension, then continued to shine as Motherwell advanced all the way to the final.
DC - Kieran Tierney (Celtic)
The 20-year-old captained his club for the first time as they defeated Kilmarnock 5-0 in the second round of the Betfred Cup. Not only that, but he scored a 40-yard rocket in the process. He would then go on to start in Celtic’s next three games as Brendan Rodgers’ side retained the trophy.
DC - Craig Halkett (Livingston)
The defender played in every one of his side’s six fixtures as the Lions made the quarter-finals, only to be knocked out narrowly by Hibs at Easter Road. The defender has been excellent in the Livingston back-line all season and his performances were no different throughout their Betfred Cup campaign.
MR - James Forrest (Celtic)
He may have come off the bench in two of Celtic’s four fixtures, but we cannot ignore the man who lit up the cup final. Forrest was his side’s star man on Sunday. Easily the best player in the first half, he then netted the crucial opener with a smashing finish into the far corner. And, it should not be forgotten, he netted twice in the 4-0 victory over Dundee which booked Celtic a spot in the semis.
MC - Chris Cadden (Motherwell)
Four goals in eight games is a pretty impressive record for a midfielder. Cadden sparkled in the group stage and scored Well’s first of the tournament against Queen’s Park at Hampden. He then bagged another in Motherwell’s 3-2 extra-time victory over Ross County, and was doing an excellent man-marking job on Scott Brown in the final until the underdogs fell behind and had to rearrange the side.
MC - Andy Geggan (Ayr United)
The man who kicked the competition off in style. Premiership against League 1, bitter rivals battling it out for bragging rights; there could not have been a better way for this Betfred Cup to get under way, and the neutral got a fairytale story at the end of it. Geggan’s goal was the only one of the game as Ayr United shocked Kilmarnock. He would play an influential role as Ian McCall’s men became the only team from outside the top two tiers to make the last 16.
ML - Martin Boyle (Hibernian)
The flying winger was in excellent form during the group stage, regularly beating his beleaguered marker and cutting back for Simon Murray to score. Though he missed the 5-0 trouncing of Ayr he was back for the game against Livingston, scoring a vital second as Hibs twice came from behind. Then, in the semi, he came off the bench and won Hibs the penalty which would see them mount a hardy, if ultimately unsuccessful, second-half fight back.
FC - Simon Murray (Hibernian)
Although he was left on the bench for the semi-final defeat to Celtic and missed the win over Livingston, we couldn’t leave out the competition’s top goalscorer. Murray managed to find the net eight times in his five games, including doubles against Montrose and Alloa and a hat-trick in the 6-1 triumph over Arbroath.
FC - Louis Moult (Motherwell)
They may have suffered heartbreak in the final and Moult may not have started every one of his side’s games, but his three goals against Aberdeen and Rangers will be cherished memories for the Fir Park faithful for years to come. He also scored a belting free-kick at Hampden in their first game against Queen’s Park and came within inches of doing it again on Sunday.
FC - Alan Trouten (Albion Rovers)
The lower-league veteran finished as the competition’s second-highest goalscorer, which is a mighty impressive feat for a League 1 forward whose team only played in the group stage. Seven goals he managed to plunder in just four games, including a hat-trick in a thrilling 4-4 draw with Hamilton Accies.
