2002–03_Southampton_F.C._season

2002–03 Southampton F.C. season

2002–03 Southampton F.C. season

Southampton F.C. 2002–03 football season


The 2002–03 season was Southampton F.C.'s 11th season in the Premier League, and their 25th consecutive season in the top division of English football.

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Season summary

After several seasons of underachievement, Southampton recorded a final placing of 8th, their highest placing in the Premier League. The club also reached the FA Cup final to face an Arsenal side which had narrowly missed out on the Premiership trophy; although Southampton lost by a single goal, as Arsenal had already qualified for the Champions League Southampton qualified for the UEFA Cup the following season.

A slow start to the season saw Southampton languishing in the relegation zone after eight matches played,[1] but a run of eight wins and only two losses from the next fifteen matches saw Southampton rocket up the league table, peaking in fifth place. Unfortunately, the charge for European qualification through the league soon fizzled out as Southampton only won four of their last fifteen matches, dragging them down to eighth place - nonetheless, this was Southampton's highest-ever finish in the Premier League. The low point of this run was a 6–1 loss against a below-strength Arsenal side preparing for the FA Cup final. This did not bode well for the Saints, as they had also managed to reach the final, but as it transpired in the final Arsenal barely edged past Southampton, winning 1–0. Despite the disappointment of not winning the FA Cup, Southampton were rewarded with their cup run with a place in the UEFA Cup, as Arsenal had already qualified for the Champions League.

Key to Southampton's high finish was good home form - Southampton only lost two home games all season, against Manchester United and Liverpool. The good season gave Southampton hope of a more sustained charge at European qualification the next season.

Premier League

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Source: League matches
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
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Source: Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:
  1. Since Liverpool qualified for the UEFA Cup via the league, their place in the UEFA Cup as League Cup winners reverted to the league and was awarded to Blackburn Rovers as the highest-placed team not already qualified for European competitions.
  2. Since Arsenal qualified for the Champions League, their place in the UEFA Cup as FA Cup winners went to Southampton, who were the FA Cup runners-up.
  3. Manchester City qualified as the highest-ranked team not already qualified for European competitions of Premiership Fair Play League by The Football Association, the top association among UEFA Fair Play ranking winners.

FA Cup

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League Cup

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Squad statistics

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Transfers

In

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Out

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Loan in

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Loan out

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References

General
  • "Fixtures & Results - 2002". Southampton F.C. Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  • "Club Statistics - Appearances - 2002/03". Southampton F.C. Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  • "Club Statistics - Discipline - 2002/03". Southampton F.C. Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  • "Club Statistics - Attendance - 2002/03". Southampton F.C. Archived from the original on 19 January 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  • "Results & Fixtures for Southampton". Soccerbase. Retrieved 21 April 2010. Note: User must manually select option 2002/2003 from dropdown menu and select 'Go'.
  • "Southampton 2002/03 player appearances". Soccerbase. Archived from the original on 25 March 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2010. Note: User must manually select option 2002/2003 from dropdown menu and select 'Go'.
  • "Southampton's transfers in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Archived from the original on 25 March 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2010. Note: User must manually select option 2002/2003 from dropdown menu and select 'Go'.
Specific
  1. "Southampton seal Niemi deal". UEFA. 27 August 2002. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  2. "New duo for Southampton". UEFA. 31 August 2002. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  3. "Saints seal Higginbotham deal". BBC. 13 February 2003. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  4. "Saints swoop for Prutton". BBC. 31 January 2003. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  5. "Kenton joins Southampton on free transfer". The Sports Network. 12 May 2003. Retrieved 22 April 2010.[dead link]
  6. "Dexter Blackstock". Sky Sports. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  7. "Transfers - July, 2002". BBC. 5 September 2002. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  8. "Saints release Petrescu". BBC. 2 July 2002. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  9. "Saints let Hall join Stoke". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  10. "Saints offload Kanchelskis". BBC. 6 February 2003. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  11. "El-Khalej released". FootyMAD. 25 January 2003. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  12. "Scott McDonald". Sky Sports. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  13. "Price war in Facey move". The Huddersfield Daily Examiner. 5 July 2002. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2010.

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