United got off to a poor start in the league. The first match against Hibsat home ended in a disappointing defeat. The following week, United were thrashed 5–0 away against Celtic. The team didn't end up winning a game till mid-September when United defeated Partick Thistle 2–0 with Charlie Miller scoring a brace. The team began their Scottish League Cup campaign with a 3–1 home victory over Morton but yet the team's league form was patchy. The first Dundee derby of the season ended in a poor 1–1 draw and then United lost to eventual winners Livingston at the end of October to end the team's league cup campaign. By the end of November, United had picked up just 12 points and were already out of the Cup.
Winter/New Year
December was a lot brighter for United with victories over Kilmarnock 2–0 away and a 2–0 home win over Livingston along with a bright performance away at Ibrox in an unlucky 2–1 defeat to Rangers. However, in the New Year, United crashed out of the Scottish Cup third round away to Dunfermline who would go on to be finalists that season. The team then enjoyed a 3–2 win over Aberdeen and this would start a memorable unbeaten home record that would stretch out until April.
Match results
Dundee United played a total of 41 competitive matches during the 2003–04 season. The team finished fifth in the Scottish Premier League. In the cup competitions, United were knocked out of the Tennent's Scottish Cup in the third round for the second successive season, losing to Dunfermline. Livingston knocked United out of the CIS Cup in the third round.
Legend
All results are written with Dundee United's score first.
During the 2003–04 season, United used 24 different players, with a further three players named as a substitute who did not make an appearance on the pitch. The table below shows the number of appearances and goals scored by each player.
Goalscorers
Thirteen players scored for the Unitedfirst team with the team scoring 51 goals in total. Jim McIntyre was the top goalscorer with eleven goals.
Name
League
Cups
Total
9
2
11
10
0
10
5
0
5
5
0
5
4
1
5
3
0
3
3
0
3
2
0
2
2
0
2
1
1
2
1
0
1
1
0
1
1
0
1
Discipline
During the 2003–04 season, three United players were sent off, and 18 players received at least one yellow card. In total, the team received three dismissals and 69 cautions.
Name
Cautions
Dismissals
8
1
6
1
5
1
9
7
7
5
5
3
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
Transfers
In
Seven players were signed during the 2003–04 season, with a total transfer cost of around £200,000. Another player was signed before the start of next season. The players that joined Dundee United during the 2003–04 season, along with their previous club, are listed below.
Five players left the club during the season with no transfer involving a fee. Two players were loaned out during the season with three players also released before next season. Listed below are the players that were released during the season, along with the club that they joined. Players did not necessarily join their next club immediately.
