Dundee United F.C. season 2003-04

Infobox Football club season
club = Dundee United F.C.

season = 2003-04
manager = Ian McCall
chairman = Eddie Thompson
league = Bank of Scotland Premierleague
league result = 5th
W:13 D:10 L:15 F:47 A:60 P:49
cup1 = Tennent's Scottish Cup | cup1 result = Third round
cup2 = CIS Insurance Cup | cup2 result = Third round
league topscorer = Billy Dodds (10)
season topscorer = Jim McIntyre (11)
highest attendance = 12,292 (vs Dundee, 26 Oct)
lowest attendance = 5,421 (vs Livingston, 13 Dec)
prevseason = 2002-03
nextseason = 2004-05The 2003-04 season was the 95th year of football played by Dundee United, and covers the period from 2003-07-01 to 2004-06-30. United finished the season in fifth place.

United were knocked out of the Tennent's Scottish Cup by Dunfermline in the third round and were beaten by Livingston in the CIS Insurance Cup third round.

eason review

A host of new signings arrived at the club with Ian McCall securing deals from the lower divisions. Mark Kerr, Owen Coyle and Collin Samuel arrived from Falkirk, McCall's former club. Barry Robson also arrived from Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Scotland international Derek McInnes was purchased from recently relegated Premiership club West Brom.

Early season

United got off to a poor start in the league. The first match against Hibernian at home ended in a disappointing defeat. The following week, United got 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 F.C. 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 F.C. 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.cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/results.sd?teamid=740&seasonid=133|title=Dundee Utd 2003/2004 player appearances|work=Soccerbase|accessdate=2008-01-08] 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

CIS Insurance Cup

Transfers

In

Seven players were signed during the 2003-04 season, with a total (public) 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.

Playing kit

The jerseys were sponsored by Morning, Noon and Night for the first time.

Awards

* Ian McCall
** sport honours|Scottish Premier League Manager of the Month|1|March 2004

ee also

* Scottish Premier League 2003-04
* Scottish Cup 2003-04
* 2003-04 in Scottish football

References

External links

* [http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?tm=9&date=2003&submit1=List Official site: 2003/04 Results]
* Soccerbase
** [http://www.soccerbase.com/results2.sd?teamid=740&seasonid=133 Results]
** [http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=740&seasonid=133 Squad stats]
** [http://www.soccerbase.com/transfers_by_team.sd?teamid=740&seasonid=133 Transfers]