2003–04 Wigan Athletic F.C. season
During the 2003–04 English football season, Wigan Athletic competed in the Football League First Division.
Season summary
Wigan were playing in Division One for the first time in their history, and after losing their first game many tipped them for a swift departure, but Wigan confounded expectations to go unbeaten for the next 17 games and sat at the top the table by November. A weak finish saw Wigan win only three of their last 10 games to finish seventh in Division One – a last minute goal by West Ham's Brian Deane in the final game of the season saw the Latics drop out of the play-off places in favour of eventual play-off winners Crystal Palace.
Final league table
Results
Wigan Athletic's score comes first
Legend
Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
9 August 2003 | Millwall | A | 0-2 | 10,898 | |
16 August 2003 | Preston North End | H | 1-1 | 12,073 | McCulloch |
23 August 2003 | Burnley | A | 2-0 | 13,231 | Kennedy, Ellington |
26 August 2003 | Ipswich Town | H | 1-0 | 8,292 | Ellington |
30 August 2003 | Rotherham United | A | 3-0 | 6,660 | Jarrett, Ellington, N. Roberts |
13 September 2003 | Wimbledon | A | 4-2 | 1,054 | Bullard, Liddell, Horsfield, Ellington |
16 September 2003 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 1-0 | 12,874 | Horsfield |
20 September 2003 | Watford | H | 1-0 | 9,211 | McCulloch |
27 September 2003 | Coventry City | A | 1-1 | 14,862 | Jackson |
30 September 2003 | Cardiff City | A | 0-0 | 15,143 | |
4 October 2003 | Norwich City | H | 1-1 | 16,160 | Liddell |
11 October 2003 | Derby County | A | 2-2 | 19,151 | Liddell (2) |
14 October 2003 | Stoke City | H | 2-1 | 7,678 | Horsfield (2) |
18 October 2003 | Gillingham | H | 1-0 | 6,696 | Liddell (pen) |
21 October 2003 | Sheffield United | H | 1-1 | 12,032 | Horsfield |
25 October 2003 | Walsall | A | 0-2 | 7,041 | |
1 November 2003 | Crystal Palace | H | 5-0 | 6,796 | Liddell (2, 1 pen), Horsfield, Ellington (2) |
8 November 2003 | Reading | A | 0-1 | 13,819 | |
22 November 2003 | Nottingham Forest | H | 2-2 | 10,403 | Ellington, Liddell |
29 November 2003 | West Ham United | A | 0-4 | 34,375 | |
2 December 2003 | Sunderland | A | 1-1 | 22,167 | De Vos |
6 December 2003 | Reading | H | 0-2 | 7,512 | |
13 December 2003 | Bradford City | H | 1-0 | 7,256 | Horsfield |
20 December 2003 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 3-2 | 7,873 | McCulloch, De Vos, Bullard |
26 December 2003 | Rotherham United | H | 1-2 | 9,235 | Ellington |
28 December 2003 | Sheffield United | A | 1-1 | 26,056 | Ellington |
10 January 2004 | Millwall | H | 0-0 | 7,047 | |
17 January 2004 | Preston North End | A | 4-2 | 19,161 | Roberts, Ellington (2), Teale |
31 January 2004 | Burnley | H | 0-0 | 11,147 | |
7 February 2004 | Ipswich Town | A | 3-1 | 22,093 | Roberts, Ellington, Teale |
14 February 2004 | Derby County | H | 2-0 | 9,146 | Ellington, McCulloch |
21 February 2004 | Stoke City | A | 1-1 | 14,927 | Ellington |
28 February 2004 | Walsall | H | 1-0 | 7,593 | Ellington |
6 March 2004 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 2-3 | 8,367 | McCulloch (2) |
13 March 2004 | Bradford City | A | 0-0 | 11,744 | |
16 March 2004 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 1-2 | 26,215 | Liddell (pen) |
20 March 2004 | Coventry City | H | 2-1 | 8,784 | Roberts (2) |
27 March 2004 | Watford | A | 1-1 | 13,382 | Roberts |
3 April 2004 | Wimbledon | H | 0-1 | 7,622 | |
6 April 2004 | Gillingham | A | 3-0 | 7,410 | Ellington, Roberts, Mahon |
9 April 2004 | Norwich City | A | 0-2 | 23,446 | |
13 April 2004 | Cardiff City | H | 3-0 | 8,052 | Roberts, Ellington |
17 April 2004 | Crystal Palace | A | 1-1 | 18,799 | Ellington |
24 April 2004 | Sunderland | H | 0-0 | 11,380 | |
1 May 2004 | Nottingham Forest | A | 0-1 | 29,172 | |
9 May 2004 | West Ham United | H | 1-1 | 20,669 | N. Roberts |
FA Cup
Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
R3 | 3 January 2004 | West Ham United | H | 1-2 | 11,793 | Quinn (own goal) |
League Cup
First-team squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Left club during season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Reserve squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Statistics
Starting 11
- Considering starts in all competitions[2]
- GK: #1, John Filan, 47
- RB: #19, Nicky Eaden, 50
- CB: #4, Matt Jackson, 26
- CB: #5, Jason De Vos, 26
- CB: #6, Ian Breckin, 47
- LB: #26, Leighton Baines, 25
- CM: #18, Jason Jarrett, 35
- CM: #21, Jimmy Bullard, 50
- CM: #10, Lee McCulloch, 35
- CF: #7, Andy Liddell, 38
- CF: #9, Nathan Ellington, 45
References