Holders St Mirren must travel to Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup last 16, while Celtic face an away tie at Dundee United after the draw was made live on Premier Sports on Sunday evening.

The draw followed the channel's coverage of St Mirren's group-stage finale against Dunfermline Athletic — a match that knocked the holders out of the seeded places and sent Neil Lennon's Dunfermline through as the last qualifier. A late Chris Kane penalty won it for the Pars, a result that also eliminated Queen's Park from the competition. BBC Sport

St Mirren had topped their group on goal difference but missed out on a seeded spot in the draw — the five group winners with the best records join the five European sides in the seeded pot, and St Mirren fell just short. Manager Craig McLeish was blunt about it afterwards, saying his side "only have ourselves to blame." BBC Sport

The Premier Sports Cup is Scotland's League Cup, played in a group stage before the European clubs enter. Forty teams begin in eight groups of five; the eight group winners and four best runners-up advance to join the five sides who received byes — Celtic, Heart of Midlothian, Hibernian, Motherwell, and Rangers — because they are playing in European competition this season. Those five were seeded for the last-16 draw. SPFL

The eight group winners were Aberdeen, Ayr United, Dundee United, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Kilmarnock, Ross County, and Stenhousemuir. Dundee and Partick Thistle progressed as the two best runners-up. BBC Sport

The full last-16 draw:

• Stenhousemuir v Motherwell
• Hearts v Inverness Caledonian Thistle
• Hibernian v Partick Thistle
• Rangers v St Mirren
• Dundee United v Celtic

Three ties remain to be confirmed from the remaining group-stage qualifiers. All last-16 matches will be played on the weekend of 15–16 August. BBC Sport

For St Mirren, the draw lands with a particular sting. They won this trophy last season — their first major silverware — and now begin their defence at Ibrox, one of the hardest grounds in the country. BBC Sport Celtic, meanwhile, travel to Tannadice to face a Dundee United side who won their group outright, which is no gimme.

The Edinburgh pair both drew home ties. Hearts host Inverness Caledonian Thistle, while Hibernian face Partick Thistle in what should be a lively afternoon at Easter Road. Motherwell, who entered through their European bye, must travel to face Stenhousemuir — a lower-division side who topped their group and will relish the visit.

For fans, the weekend of 15–16 August now has its headline act: the holders going to Rangers with their trophy defence on the line from the first knockout round.