2002–03 Southampton F.C. 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.

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, 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

DateOpponentsH/AResult
F–A		ScorersAttendanceLeague
position
17 August 2002MiddlesbroughH28,3419th
24 August 2002LiverpoolA43,05815th
28 August 2002ChelseaHFernandes 51'31,20816th
31 August 2002Tottenham HotspurATaricco 30' 35,57318th
11 September 2002EvertonHPahars 73' 29,19017th
14 September 2002West Bromwich AlbionA26,38317th
21 September 2002Charlton AthleticH25,71418th
28 September 2002Bolton WanderersABridge 82'22,69218th
5 October 2002Manchester CityHOrmerod 2', 43'31,00913th
21 October 2002Aston VillaABeattie 48' 25,81712th
27 October 2002FulhamHBeattie 27', 42', 53', Ormerod 72'26,18810th
2 November 2002Manchester UnitedAFernandes 18'67,69110th
9 November 2002Blackburn RoversHBeattie 38' 30,05910th
16 November 2002Newcastle UnitedABeattie 2'51,81211th
23 November 2002ArsenalHBeattie 45', 59', Delgado 67'31,7979th
2 December 2002West Ham UnitedA1 – 0Beattie 90'28,84410th
7 December 2002Birmingham CityHBeattie 60', 83'31,1327th
14 December 2002Newcastle UnitedHMarsden 52'32,0617th
21 December 2002Leeds UnitedAFernandes 89'36,6877th
26 December 2002ChelseaA39,4289th
28 December 2002SunderlandHBeattie 73', Tessem 90'31,4237th
1 January 2003Tottenham HotspurH1 – 0Beattie 82'31,8906th
11 January 2003MiddlesbroughA2 – 2Beattie 40', 60'27,4435th
18 January 2003LiverpoolH0 – 132,1048th
28 January 2003SunderlandA1 – 0Beattie 50'34,1026th
1 February 2003Manchester UnitedH0 – 232,0857th
8 February 2003Blackburn RoversA24,8969th
22 February 2003EvertonA1 – 2Beattie 33'36,56910th
1 March 2003West Bromwich AlbionHBeattie 8'31,91510th
15 March 2003FulhamA2 – 2Beattie 81', M. Svensson 90'18,0319th
22 March 2003Aston VillaH2 – 2Beattie 40', Kevin Davies 90'31,8889th
5 April 2003West Ham UnitedH1 – 1Beattie 44'31,94111th
19 April 2003Leeds UnitedH3 – 2Ormerod 32', Beattie 45', A. Svensson 53'32,0328th
21 April 2003Birmingham CityA2 – 3A. Svensson 26', Ormerod 77'29,1159th
26 April 2003Charlton AthleticABeattie 90'25,89410th
3 May 2003Bolton WanderersH30,95111th
7 May 2003ArsenalATessem 35'38,05211th
11 May 2003Manchester CityAM. Svensson 34'34,9578th

FA Cup

League Cup

Squad statistics

Transfers

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Out

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