2003–04 Manchester City F.C. season
Manchester City | |
Season 2003–04 | |
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Owner | Publicly traded company |
Chairman | John Wardle |
Manager | Kevin Keegan |
Team captain | Sylvain Distin |
Home stadium | City of Manchester Stadium (a.k.a. Eastlands and CoMS) |
Premier League | Sixteenth |
League Cup | Fourth round |
FA Cup | Fifth round |
UEFA Cup | Second round |
Top goalscorer | League: Nicolas Anelka (17 goals) (5th highest in Premier League) All comps: Nicolas Anelka (25 goals) |
Average home attendance |
46,834 – over 19 PL home games (3rd highest in Premier League) |
Highest home attendance |
47,304 Chelsea 28 February 2004 | v
Highest away attendance |
67,645 Manchester United 13 December 2003 | v
Lowest home attendance |
29,067 Sporting Lokeren 24 September 2003 | v
Lowest away attendance |
5,500 Groclin Dyskobolia 27 November 2003 | v
← 2002–03 2004–05 → |
Results summary - all competitions | ||||
Wins | Draws | Losses | Win % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Home | 7 | 12 | 5 | 29.2% |
Away | 9 | 6 | 12 | 33.3% |
Both | 16 | 18 | 17 | 31.4% |
Results summary - Premier League | ||||
Wins | Draws | Losses | Win % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Home | 5 | 9 | 5 | 26.3% |
Away | 4 | 5 | 10 | 21.1% |
Both | 9 | 14 | 15 | 23.7% |
The 2003–04 season was Manchester City Football Club's second consecutive season playing in the Premier League, the top division of English football, and its seventh season since the Premier League was first created with Manchester City as one of the its original 22 founding member clubs. Overall, it was the team's 112th season playing in a division of English football, most of which have been spent in the top flight.
Season review
After finishing ninth during the club's final season at 80-year-old Maine Road, Manchester City's debut season at the City of Manchester Stadium was a major disappointment. A ninth-place finish had not been good enough to earn City an opportunity to play in the UEFA Cup but the team was rewarded with that opportunity anyway due to being awarded a "Fair Play" slot in the UEFA Cup competition this season. City reached the second round proper of the competition thanks to aggregate victories against The New Saints and Lokeren, but exited the competition on the away goals rule after two draws against Polish club Groclin.
Having embarked on a new era for the club by signing a host of experienced players in the summer, such as Claudio Reyna and Steve McManaman, to combine with such burgeoning talents coming through from the MCFC youth academy as Stephen Ireland and Shaun Wright-Phillips, City started their season very brightly with three wins in five games, sending them near the top of the table. They were still in the top-half of the table after winning five, drawing three and losing three of their first 11 games, with three notably big wins: a 3–0 opening-game away win at Charlton Athletic, a 4–1 home victory over Aston Villa and a 6–2 thumping of Bolton Wanderers. However, a dreadful 3–0 home defeat against unlikely opponents Leicester City in November started a gradual downturn in form and City then ended up battling against relegation. At one point, City went on a run of winning only one game out of 18 league and cup matches played, sparking media rumours of unrest in the squad.[1] Survival in the Premier League was not confirmed until City won their 36th game of the league season. That victory meant that City were six points ahead of the relegation places, but the club's survival was effectively confirmed due to it having a far superior goal difference to Leicester, Leeds and Wolves, who were relegated.
Perhaps the most memorable game played by Manchester City during this season was the FA Cup fourth round replay fixture against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane which featured what many people consider to be one of the most extraordinary comebacks in the history of the competition.[1][2] City fell three goals behind during the first half, had Nicolas Anelka substituted due to injury and Joey Barton was sent off during half-time for verbally abusing the referee.[1] Despite having one man less than their opponents during the second half, City came all the way back to win 4–3 and reach the next round.[1] Rookie Icelandic goalkeeper Árni Arason made a key double save[1] and Jon Macken scored the winning goal.[1] In the next round, a Manchester derby at Old Trafford, City lost 4–2 to exit the competition.
Team kit
There was a change in the producer of the team kits for this season, with Reebok replacing the previous season's supplier, Le Coq Sportif. The shirt sponsorship was provided by the financial and legal services group First Advice who had also been the sponsors for the previous season.[3]
First-team squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Left club during season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Historical league performance
Prior to this season, the history of Manchester City's performance in the English football league hierarchy since the creation of the Premier League in 1992 is summarised by the following timeline chart – which commences with the last season (1991–92) of the old Football League First Division (from which the Premier League was formed).
Friendly games
Pre-season
19 July 2003 | Mansfield | 2 – 1 | Manchester City | Mansfield, England |
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Larkin 37' Corden 57' |
Sporting Life report | 39' Anelka | Stadium: Field Mill Attendance: 7,000 |
22 July 2003 | Odense | 1 – 0 | Manchester City | Odense, Denmark |
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Miti 75' | Sporting Life report | Stadium: Fionia Park |
25 July 2003 | Feyenoord | 1 – 2 | Manchester City | Rotterdam, Netherlands |
---|---|---|---|---|
Lazovic | Sporting Life report | Anelka 88' Wanchope |
Stadium: Feijenoord Stadion |
29 July 2003 | Lincoln City | 2 – 2 | Manchester City | Lincoln, England |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mayo Bloomer |
Sporting Life report | Wanchope Anelka |
Stadium: Sincil Bank |
2 August 2003 | Oldham Athletic | 0 – 6 | Manchester City | Oldham, England |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sporting Life report | 23' Anelka Sinclair Fowler Anelka Wright-Phillips Wanchope |
Stadium: Boundary Park |
4 August 2003 | Rochdale | 0 – 4 | Manchester City | Rochdale, England |
---|---|---|---|---|
BBC Sport report | 25' Wright-Phillips Anelka Horlock Shuker |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 5,500 |
First game ever played at CoMS
10 August 2003 | Manchester City | 2 – 1 | Barcelona | Manchester, England |
---|---|---|---|---|
Anelka 35' Sinclair 67' |
Sporting Life report YouTube video |
58' Saviola | Stadium: City of Manchester Stadium Attendance: 36,500 |
Competitive games
Premier League
Final Positions
Pos |
Team |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
14 | Tottenham Hotspur | 38 | 13 | 6 | 19 | 47 | 57 | −10 | 45 |
15 | Blackburn Rovers | 38 | 12 | 8 | 18 | 51 | 59 | −8 | 44 |
16 | Manchester City | 38 | 9 | 14 | 15 | 55 | 54 | +1 | 41 |
17 | Everton | 38 | 9 | 12 | 17 | 45 | 57 | −12 | 39 |
18 | Leicester City | 38 | 6 | 15 | 17 | 48 | 65 | −17 | 33 |
Updated to games played on 15 May 2004 (end of season).
Source: Premier League 2003–04
Rules for classification:
1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.
Results summary
Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
38 | 9 | 14 | 15 | 55 | 54 | +1 | 41 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 31 | 24 | +7 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 24 | 30 | −6 |
Last updated: 15 May 2004 (end of season).
Source: Premier League results 2003–04
Points breakdown
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Biggest & smallestBiggest home wins: 6–2 vs. Bolton Wanderers, 18 October 2003 |
Results by round
Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ground | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H |
Result | W | D | W | L | W | D | D | L | W | L | W | L | L | L | D | L | D | L | D | D | L | D | L | D | L | W | L | W | L | D | D | D | D | L | D | W | L | W |
Last updated: 15 May 2004 (end of season).
Source: Premier League results 2003–04
Ground: A = Away; H = Home. Result: D = Draw; L = Loss; W = Win; P = Postponed.
Individual match reports
17 August 2003 14:00 |
Charlton Athletic | 0 – 3 | Manchester City |
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Sporting Life report | 13' (pen.) Anelka 23' Sibierski 83' Sun |
23 August 2003 15:00 |
Manchester City | 1 – 1 | Portsmouth |
---|---|---|
Sommeil 90' | Sporting Life report | 24' Aiyegbeni |
City of Manchester Stadium Attendance: 46,287 Referee: M. Messias (N. Yorkshire) |
25 August 2003 20:00 |
Blackburn Rovers | 2 – 3 | Manchester City |
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Sinclair 44' (o.g.) Amoruso 61' |
Sporting Life report | 4' Tarnat 59' Barton 87' Anelka |
31 August 2003 16:05 |
Manchester City | 1 – 2 | Arsenal |
---|---|---|
Lauren 10' (o.g.) | Sporting Life report | 48' Wiltord 72' Ljungberg |
City of Manchester Stadium Attendance: 46,436 Referee: G. Poll (Hertfordshire) |
14 September 2003 14:00 |
Manchester City | 4 – 1 | Aston Villa |
---|---|---|
Anelka 48' (pen.) Tarnat 50' Anelka 68' (pen.) Anelka 83' |
Sporting Life report | 31' Angel |
City of Manchester Stadium Attendance: 46,687 Referee: M. Halsey (Lancashire) |
20 September 2003 15:00 |
Fulham | 2 – 2 | Manchester City |
---|---|---|
Malbranque 73' Saha 79' |
Sporting Life report | 46' Anelka 90' Wanchope |
28 September 2003 16:05 |
Manchester City | 0 – 0 | Tottenham Hotspur |
---|---|---|
Sporting Life report |
City of Manchester Stadium Attendance: 46,842 Referee: N. Barry (N. Lincolnshire) |
18 October 2003 15:00 |
Manchester City | 6 – 2 | Bolton Wanderers |
---|---|---|
Wright-Phillips 27' Distin 48' Wright-Phillips 56' Anelka 58' Wright-Phillips 62' Anelka 72' Reyna 84' |
Sporting Life report | 25' Nolan 60' Campo |
City of Manchester Stadium Attendance: 47,101 Referee: S. Bennett (Kent) |
9 November 2003 15:00 |
Manchester City | 0 – 3 | Leicester City |
---|---|---|
Sporting Life report | 12' Stewart 53' (pen.) Dickov 58' Bent |
City of Manchester Stadium Attendance: 46,966 Referee: M. Riley (W. Yorkshire) |
22 November 2003 15:00 |
Newcastle United | 3 – 0 | Manchester City |
---|---|---|
Ameobi 57' Shearer 77' 85' |
Sporting Life report |
30 November 2003 15:00 |
Manchester City | 0 – 1 | Middlesbrough |
---|---|---|
Sporting Life report | 30' (o.g.) Jihai |
City of Manchester Stadium Attendance: 46,824 Referee: M. Riley (W. Yorkshire) |
13 December 2003 12:30 |
Manchester United | 3 – 1 | Manchester City |
---|---|---|
Scholes 7' van Nistelrooy 34' Scholes 73' |
Sporting Life report | 52' Wright-Phillips |
22 December 2003 20:00 |
Manchester City | 1 – 1 | Leeds United |
---|---|---|
Sibierski 82' | Sporting Life report | 24' Viduka |
City of Manchester Stadium Attendance: 47,126 Referee: G. Barber (Hertfordshire) |
26 December 2003 15:00 |
Birmingham City | 2 – 1 | Manchester City |
---|---|---|
Kenna 81' Forssell 87' |
Sporting Life report | 14' Fowler |
28 December 2003 15:00 |
Manchester City | 2 – 2 | Liverpool |
---|---|---|
Anelka 30' (pen.) Fowler 90' |
Sporting Life report | 66' Šmicer 80' Hamann |
City of Manchester Stadium Attendance: 47,201 Referee: M. Riley (W. Yorkshire) |
7 January 2004 19:45 |
Manchester City | 1 – 1 | Charlton Athletic |
---|---|---|
Fowler 39' | Sporting Life report | 84' Di Canio |
City of Manchester Stadium Attendance: 44,307 Referee: P. Walton (Northamptonshire) |
10 January 2004 15:00 |
Portsmouth | 4 – 2 | Manchester City |
---|---|---|
Stefanovic 19' Yakubu 52' Sheringham 58' Yakubu 77' |
Sporting Life report | 21' Anelka 45' Sibierski |
17 January 2004 15:00 |
Manchester City | 1 – 1 | Blackburn Rovers |
---|---|---|
Anelka 50' | Sporting Life report | 55' Flitcroft |
City of Manchester Stadium Attendance: 47,090 Referee: M. Dean (Wirral) |
1 February 2004 16:05 |
Arsenal | 2 – 1 | Manchester City |
---|---|---|
Tarnat 39' (o.g.) Henry 83' |
Sporting Life report | 89' Anelka |
8 February 2004 14:00 |
Manchester City | 0 – 0 | Birmingham City |
---|---|---|
Sporting Life report |
City of Manchester Stadium Attendance: 46,967 Referee: P. Durkin (Dorset) |
11 February 2004 20:00 |
Liverpool | 2 – 1 | Manchester City |
---|---|---|
Owen 3' Gerrard 51' |
Sporting Life report | 50' Wright-Phillips |
21 February 2004 15:00 |
Bolton Wanderers | 1 – 3 | Manchester City |
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Nolan 22' | Sporting Life report | 27' 31' Fowler 50' (o.g.) Charlton |
28 February 2004 15:00 |
Manchester City | 0 – 1 | Chelsea |
---|---|---|
Sporting Life report | 82' Guðjohnsen |
City of Manchester Stadium Attendance: 47,304 Referee: R. Styles (Hampshire) |
14 March 2004 14:00 |
Manchester City | 4 – 1 | Manchester United |
---|---|---|
Fowler 3' Macken 32' Sinclair 73' Wright-Phillips 90' |
Sporting Life report YouTube video |
35' Scholes |
City of Manchester Stadium Attendance: 47,284 Referee: S. Bennett (Kent) |
22 March 2004 20:00 |
Leeds United | 2 – 1 | Manchester City |
---|---|---|
McPhail 23' Viduka 76' (pen.) |
Sporting Life report | 44' Anelka |
27 March 2004 15:00 |
Manchester City | 0 – 0 | Fulham |
---|---|---|
Sporting Life report |
City of Manchester Stadium Attendance: 46,522 Referee: J. Winter (Cleveland) |
10 April 2004 15:00 |
Manchester City | 3 – 3 | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
---|---|---|
Anelka 25' Sibierski 39' Wright-Phillips 90' |
Sporting Life report | 13' Kennedy 23' Cort 78' Camara |
City of Manchester Stadium Attendance: 47,248 Referee: J. Winter (Cleveland) |
12 April 2004 15:00 |
Tottenham Hotspur | 1 – 1 | Manchester City |
---|---|---|
Defoe 52' | Sporting Life report | 25' Anelka |
17 April 2004 15:00 |
Manchester City | 1 – 3 | Southampton |
---|---|---|
Anelka 78' | Sporting Life report | 34' Beattie 55' 81' Phillips |
City of Manchester Stadium Attendance: 47,152 Referee: G. Barber (Hertfordshire) |
24 April 2004 15:00 |
Leicester City | 1 – 1 | Manchester City |
---|---|---|
Scowcroft 66' | Sporting Life report | 45' Tarnat |
1 May 2004 15:00 |
Manchester City | 1 – 0 | Newcastle United |
---|---|---|
Wanchope 59' | Sporting Life report |
City of Manchester Stadium Attendance: 47,226 Referee: M. Halsey (Lancashire) |
8 May 2004 15:00 |
Middlesbrough | 2 – 1 | Manchester City |
---|---|---|
Maccarone 8' Nemeth 32' |
Sporting Life report | 35' Wanchope |
15 May 2004 15:00 |
Manchester City | 5 – 1 | Everton |
---|---|---|
Wanchope 16' 30' Anelka 41' Sibierski 89' Wright-Phillips 90' |
Sporting Life report | 60' Campbell |
City of Manchester Stadium Attendance: 47,284 Referee: S. Dunn (Gloucestershire) |
UEFA Cup
Qualifying round
First leg
14 August 2003 |
Manchester City | 5 – 0 | The New Saints |
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Sinclair 14' Wright-Phillips 51' Sun 60' Sommeil 74' Anelka 87' |
Sporting Life report |
City of Manchester Stadium, England Attendance: 34,103 Referee: Alexey Tiumin (Russia) |
Second leg
First round
First leg
24 September 2003 |
Manchester City | 3 – 2 | Sporting Lokeren |
---|---|---|
Sibierski 8' Fowler 77' Anelka 80' (pen.) |
Sporting Life report | 14' Zoundi 40' Kristinsson |
City of Manchester Stadium, England Attendance: 29,067 Referee: G. Gilewski (Poland) |
Second leg
15 October 2003 |
Sporting Lokeren | 0 – 1 | Manchester City |
---|---|---|
Sporting Life report | 19' (pen.) Anelka |
Daknamstadion Lokeren, Belgium Attendance: 10,000 |
Second round
First leg
6 November 2003 |
Manchester City | 1 – 1 | Groclin Dyskobolia |
---|---|---|
Anelka 6' | Sporting Life report | 65' Mila |
City of Manchester Stadium, England Attendance: 32,506 Referee: G. Kaznaferis (Greece) |
Second leg
Final aggregate score 1–1 with Groclin winning due to away goals counting double
League Cup
Third round
28 October 2003 19:45 |
Queens Park Rangers | 0 – 3 | Manchester City |
---|---|---|
Sporting Life report | 22' 77' Wright-Phillips 79' Macken |
Fourth round
3 December 2003 19:45 |
Tottenham Hotspur | 3 – 1 | Manchester City |
---|---|---|
Anderton 9' Postiga 30' Kanouté 90' |
Sporting Life report | 80' Fowler |
FA Cup
Third round
3 January 2004 15:00 |
Manchester City | 2 – 2 | Leicester City |
---|---|---|
Anelka 27' (pen.) 69' | Sporting Life report | 4' Dickov 66' Bent |
City of Manchester Stadium Attendance: 30,617 Referee: G. Poll (Hertfordshire) |
Third round replay
14 January 2004 19:45 |
Leicester City | 1 – 3 | Manchester City |
---|---|---|
Ferdinand 73' | Sporting Life report | 12' Sibierski 90' Macken 90' Anelka |
Fourth round
25 January 2004 13:00 |
Manchester City | 1 – 1 | Tottenham Hotspur |
---|---|---|
Anelka 11' | Sporting Life report | 57' Doherty |
City of Manchester Stadium Attendance: 34,000 Referee: S. Dunn (Gloucestershire) |
Fourth round replay
4 February 2004 19:45 |
Tottenham Hotspur | 3 – 4 | Manchester City |
---|---|---|
King 2' Keane 19' Ziege 43' |
Sporting Life report MCFC video |
45' Barton 48' Distin 69' Bosvelt 80' Wright-Phillips 90' Macken |
Fifth round
14 February 2004 12:30 |
Manchester United | 4 – 2 | Manchester City |
---|---|---|
Scholes 34' Neville 39' van Nistelrooy 71' Ronaldo 74' van Nistelrooy 80' |
Sporting Life report | 78' Tarnat 86' Fowler |
Statistics
Starting 11
Goal scorers
Information current as of 15 May 2004 (end of season) Transfers and loans
See alsoReferences
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