The 2003–04 season was the 95th year of football played by Dundee United, and covers the period from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004. 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.

Season 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 Hibs at 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 WinDrawLoss

All results are written with Dundee United's score first.

Bank of Scotland Premierleague DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 9 August 2003 HibernianH1–29,809Samuel 16 August 2003 CelticA0–557,658 23 August 2003 HeartsA0–311,395 31 August 2003 RangersH1–39,752Dodds 13 September 2003 LivingstonA0–05,344 20 September 2003 Partick ThistleA0–24,711Miller (2) 27 September 2003 KilmarnockH1–16,529McLaren 4 October 2003 MotherwellH0–26,194 18 October 2003 AberdeenA1–011,244McLaren 26 October 2003 DundeeH1–112,292McIntyre 1 November 2003 DunfermlineA0–25,078 8 November 2003 HibernianA2–28,756McLaren, Robson 22 November 2003 CelticH1–510,802 30 November 2003 HeartsH2–16,343Archibald, McInnes 6 December 2003 RangersA1–249,307Dodds 13 December 2003 LivingstonH2–05,421Dodds (2) 23 December 2003 Partick ThistleH0–06,440 27 December 2003 KilmarnockA2–06,062Dodds, McIntyre 3 January 2004 MotherwellA1–35,549Wilson 17 January 2004 AberdeenH3–26,666Robson, Miller, Dodds 24 January 2004 DundeeA1–210,747Dodds 31 January 2004 DunfermlineH1–05,564McIntyre 10 February 2004 HibernianH0–06,389 14 February 2004 CelticA1–258,698Archibald 21 February 2004 HeartsA1–310,265McIntyre 29 February 2004 RangersH2–010,496Kerr, McLaren 13 March 2004 Partick ThistleA1–13,510Robson 20 March 2004 KilmarnockH4–15,757McIntyre (3), Miller 24 March 2004 LivingstonA3–23,082Scotland, Samuel, McIntyre 27 March 2004 MotherwellH1–07,585Scotland 3 April 2004 AberdeenA0–38,449 11 April 2004 DundeeH2–29,571Dodds (2) 17 April 2004 DunfermlineA1–14,409McCracken24 April 2004 RangersH3–310,496Dodds, Scotland (2) 1 May 2003 HeartsH0–26,620 8 May 2004 MotherwellA1–05,722Wilson 11 May 2004 DunfermlineH3–25,998Miller, Innes, Scotland 16 May 2004 CelticA1–258,386Wilson

Tennent's Scottish Cup DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 10 January 2004 DunfermlineA1–35,078McInnes

CIS Insurance Cup DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 23 September 2003 MortonH3–15,638McLaren, McIntyre (2) 29 October 2003 LivingstonH0–12,899

Player details 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 United first team with the team scoring 51 goals in total. Jim McIntyre was the top goalscorer with eleven goals. NameLeagueCupsTotal92 11100 1050 550 541 530 330 320 220 211 210 110 110 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. NameCautionsDismissals 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 (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. Date Player From Fee (£) 1 July 2003 Falkirk Bosman 11 July 2003 Falkirk Free 11 July 2003 West Brom Free 11 July 2003 Falkirk £0,100,000 15 July 2003 Unattached (ex-Defence Force) 28 August 2003 Unattached (ex-Kilmarnock) Free 29 August 2003 Kilmarnock £0,100,000 2 June 2004 Partick Thistle Bosman

Out 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. Date Player To Fee 14 February 2004 Released Released 14 February 2004 Ross County Released 7 January 2004 Stockport County Released 13 January 2004 Motherwell Released 31 May 2004 Livingston Released 31 May 2004 Norwich Released 31 May 2004 Brann Released

Loans out Date Player To Until 30 August 2003 Forfar Athletic January 24 November 2003 Airdrie United Loan

Playing kit

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

Awards Ian McCall Scottish Premier League Manager of the Month: 1 March 2004

See also 2003–04 Scottish Premier League 2003–04 Scottish Cup 2003–04 in Scottish football

References

External links Official site: 2003/04 Results Soccerbase Results Squad stats Transfers