During the 2002–03 English football season, Nottingham Forest competed in the Football League First Division.

Season summary Nottingham Forest rebounded from the previous season's disappointment to finish 6th in the First Division, setting up a play-off with third-placed Sheffield United. Forest were beaten 5–4 on aggregate over two epic semi-final legs, consigning the club to another season in English football's second tier.

Final league table

First-team squad Squad at end of season

Left club during season

Appearances

Playoff stats are included under Division 1.

Results

WinDrawLoss

Football League First Division DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 10 August 2002 PortsmouthA0–218,910 14 August 2002 Preston North EndH2-218,065 Johnson, Jess 17 August 2002 Sheffield WednesdayH4–021,129Harewood, Lester, Scimeca (2) 24 August 2002 WalsallA1–25,096Prutton 28 August 2002 WimbledonH2–016,431Johnson (2) 31 August 2002 Coventry CityA1–013,732Scimeca 14 September 2002 WatfordH0–117,865 18 September 2002 GillinghamH4–116,073Harewood (3), Johnson 21 September 2002 Grimsby TownA3–07,072Johnson (3) 25 September 2002 Stoke CityA2–214,554Dawson, Johnson 28 September 2002 Rotherham UnitedH3–225,089Johnson (2), Bopp 5 October 2002 MillwallA2–110,521Johnson (2) 20 October 2002 Derby CountyA0–030,547 26 October 2002 Leicester CityH2–229,497Johnson, Lester 29 October 2002 Norwich CityA0–020,986 2 November 2002 Sheffield UnitedH3–022,579Lester (2), Johnson 9 November 2002 Crystal PalaceA0–018,971 16 November 2002 Bradford CityH3–019,653Lester, Johnson, Louis-Jean 23 November 2002 WolvesA1–227,953Harewood 27 November 2002 BrightonH3–229,137Harewood, Johnson, Lester 30 November 2002 Ipswich TownH2–024,898Johnson (2), 7 December 2002 BurnleyA0–113,869 14 December 2002 Bradford CityA0–112,245 21 December 2002 ReadingH2–025,831 Johnson, Harewood, 26 December 2002 Sheffield WednesdayA0–226,362 28 December 2002 PortsmouthH1–228,165Dawson 1 January 2003 WalsallH1–128,441 Thompson 18 January 2003 Coventry CityH1–124,487 Williams 25 January 2003 Preston North EndA1–113,508Johnson 1 February 2003 WimbledonA3–23,382Harewood (2), Johnson, 8 February 2003 Crystal PalaceH2–126,012Dawson, Harewood 22 February 2003 Stoke CityH6–024,085Harewood (4), Johnson, Jess 1 March 2003 WatfordA1–117,934Huckerby 4 March 2003 GillinghamA4–17,277Huckerby (2), Harewood, Thompson 10 March 2003 Grimsby TownH2–225,507Reid, Williams 15 March 2003 BrightonA0–16,830 19 March 2003 Derby CountyH3–029,725Harewood (2), Huckerby 22 March 2003 Norwich CityH4–027,296Huckerby, Harewood, Williams, Brennan 5 April 2003 Ipswich TownA4–329,503Harewood (2), Thompson, OG 8 April 2003 Leicester CityA0–132,065 11 April 2003 WolvesH2–227,209Johnson, Dawson 15 April 2003 Sheffield UnitedA0-123,317 18 April 2003 ReadingA0–121,612 21 April 2003 BurnleyH2–025,403Dawson, Johnson 26 April 2003 MillwallH3–329,763Jess, Bopp, Johnson 4 May 2003 Rotherham UnitedA2–29,942Lester, Westcarr

Play Offs

+DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers10 May 2003 Sheffield UnitedH1–1 29,064Johnson15 May 2003 Sheffield UnitedA4–3 24,477 Johnson, Reid, OG

FA Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR34 January 2003 West Ham UnitedA2–311,843Reid, Harewood

League Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR111 September 2002 Kidderminster HarriersH4–0 4,950Lester (2), Johnson, ScimecaR22 October 2002 WalsallA1–2 4,477 Johnson

References