2002–03 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season
# 2002–03 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season

During the 2002–03 English football season, Blackburn Rovers competed in the FA Premier League.

## Season summary

After a season of consolidation in the Premiership the previous season (capped with victory in the League Cup), Blackburn Rovers enjoyed their best season since winning the title in 1995, finishing in sixth place and qualifying for the UEFA Cup for the second year in a row. While their UEFA Cup campaign was not especially impressive (only beating CSKA Sofia on away goals before being knocked out by eventual runners-up Celtic), their continued progress under Graeme Souness gave the fans much hope for the following season. Blackburn also embarked on another strong run in the League Cup for the second successive year, although they failed to defend their title after suffering a 4-2 aggregate defeat to Manchester United in the semi-finals. The star man for Blackburn this season was American goalkeeper Brad Friedel, who was named as the goalkeeper in the PFA Team of the Year.

## Final league table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 4 | Chelsea | 38 | 19 | 10 | 9 | 68 | 38 | +30 | 67 | Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round |
| 5 | Liverpool | 38 | 18 | 10 | 10 | 61 | 41 | +20 | 64 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 6 | Blackburn Rovers | 38 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 52 | 43 | +9 | 60 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 7 | Everton | 38 | 17 | 8 | 13 | 48 | 49 | −1 | 59 | |
| 8 | Southampton | 38 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 43 | 46 | −3 | 52 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |

* ↑ Since Liverpool qualified for the UEFA Cup via the league, their place in the UEFA Cup as League Cup winners reverted to the league and was awarded to Blackburn Rovers as the highest-placed team not already qualified for European competitions.
* ↑ Since Arsenal qualified for the Champions League, their place in the UEFA Cup as FA Cup winners went to Southampton, who were the FA Cup runners-up.

## First-team squad

    Squad at end of season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | GK | USA | Brad Friedel |
| 2 | DF | AUS | Lucas Neill |
| 3 | MF | TUR | Tugay Kerimoğlu |
| 4 | DF | ENG | Andy Todd |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Craig Short |
| 7 | MF | ENG | Garry Flitcroft |
| 8 | MF | ENG | David Dunn |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Andrew Cole |
| 10 | FW | ENG | Matt Jansen |
| 11 | MF | IRL | Damien Duff |
| 12 | FW | ITA | Corrado Grabbi |
| 13 | GK | IRL | Alan Kelly |
| 14 | DF | SWE | Nils-Eric Johansson |
| 15 | FW | ENG | Craig Hignett |
| 16 | MF | IRL | Alan Mahon |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 17 | DF | ENG | John Curtis |
| 18 | MF | NIR | Keith Gillespie |
| 19 | FW | TRI | Dwight Yorke |
| 20 | MF | ENG | David Thompson |
| 21 | DF | ENG | Martin Taylor |
| 22 | FW | NOR | Egil Østenstad |
| 23 | DF | GER | Sebastian Pelzer |
| 25 | DF | NOR | Henning Berg |
| 26 | DF | SVK | Vratislav Greško (on loan from Parma) |
| 29 | MF | IRL | Jonathan Douglas |
| 31 | FW | SCO | Paul Gallagher |
| 33 | FW | TUR | Hakan Şükür |
| 34 | DF | ENG | Jay McEveley |
| 35 | MF | ENG | Neil Danns |
| 36 | FW | ENG | Marc Richards |

### Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| - | - | - | - |
| 5 | DF | NOR | Stig Inge Bjørnebye (retired) |
| 10 | FW | ENG | Matt Jansen (on loan to Coventry City) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 20 | MF | TUR | Hakan Ünsal (to Galatasaray) |
| 27 | GK | ENG | Alan Miller (retired) |

## Reserve squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| - | - | - | - |
| 24 | MF | ENG | Darren Dunning |
| 30 | DF | SCO | Gordon Greer |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 32 | GK | ENG | Ryan Robinson |

## Statistics

### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Premier League | Premier League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | UEFA Cup | UEFA Cup |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||||||
| 1 | GK | USA | Brad Friedel | 47 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | IRL | Alan Kelly | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||||||
| 2 | DF | AUS | Lucas Neill | 45 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | ENG | Andy Todd | 19 | 1 | 7+5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Craig Short | 30 | 1 | 26+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 14 | DF | SWE | Nils-Eric Johansson | 39 | 0 | 20+10 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | ENG | John Curtis | 7 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 21 | DF | ENG | Martin Taylor | 42 | 2 | 29+4 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 23 | DF | GER | Sebastian Pelzer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | DF | NOR | Henning Berg | 19 | 1 | 15+1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 26 | DF | SVK | Vratislav Greško | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | DF | ENG | Jay McEveley | 15 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||||||
| 3 | MF | TUR | Tugay Kerimoğlu | 48 | 1 | 32+5 | 1 | 2+1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | ENG | Garry Flitcroft | 40 | 4 | 33 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ENG | David Dunn | 36 | 8 | 26+2 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | IRL | Damien Duff | 31 | 11 | 26 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 15 | MF | ENG | Craig Hignett | 4 | 1 | 1+2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | IRL | Alan Mahon | 3 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | NIR | Keith Gillespie | 34 | 0 | 10+15 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | ENG | David Thompson | 32 | 6 | 23 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 29 | MF | IRL | Jonathan Douglas | 5 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | MF | ENG | Neil Danns | 6 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Forwards ||||||||||||||
| 9 | FW | ENG | Andy Cole | 43 | 13 | 32+2 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | ENG | Matt Jansen | 13 | 2 | 0+7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1+2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 12 | FW | ITA | Corrado Grabbi | 15 | 3 | 1+10 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 19 | FW | TRI | Dwight Yorke | 43 | 13 | 25+8 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 22 | FW | NOR | Egil Østenstad | 25 | 2 | 8+9 | 1 | 1+2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 2+1 | 1 |
| 31 | FW | SCO | Paul Gallagher | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | FW | TUR | Hakan Şükür | 9 | 2 | 7+2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | FW | ENG | Marc Richards | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players transferred out during the season ||||||||||||||
| 5 | DF | NOR | Stig Inge Bjørnebye | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

Last updated: 31 May 2003 Source:

### Starting 11

    Considering starts in all competitions
* GK: #1, Brad Friedel, 47
* RB: #2, Lucas Neill, 45
* CB: #14, Nils-Eric Johansson, 27 (#20, David Thompson, has 32 starts)
* CB: #21, Martin Taylor, 38
* LB: #6, Craig Short, 29
* RM: #7, Garry Flitcroft, 39
* CM: #8, David Dunn, 33
* CM: #3, Tugay Kerimoğlu, 42
* LM: #11, Damien Duff, 31
* CF: #19, Dwight Yorke, 35
* CF: #9, Andy Cole, 40

## Transfers

### In

* Andy Todd - Charlton Athletic, 22 May, £750,000 (rising to £1,000,000 depending on appearances)
* Sebastian Pelzer - 1. FC Kaiserslautern II, 25 June, undisclosed
* Dwight Yorke - Manchester United, 26 July, £2,000,000 (rising to £2,600,000 depending on appearances and team performance)
* David Thompson - Coventry City, 29 August, £1,500,000 (rising to £2,500,000 depending on player and team performances)
* Hakan Şükür - unattached (last played for Parma), 4 December, free
* Vratislav Greško - Parma, 11 February, four-month loan

### Out

* Mark Hughes - released, 13 May
* Simon Grayson - Blackpool, 19 July, free
* Hakan Ünsal - Galatasaray, 27 August, £650,000
* Matt Jansen - Coventry City, 18 February, four-month loan
* Stig Inge Bjørnebye - retired, 11 March
* Alan Miller - retired, 7 April
* James Thomas - released

## Results

### Premier League

**Results by matchday**

| Matchday | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ground | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A |
| Result | D | W | D | L | L | D | W | W | L | W | W | D | D | L | L | W | D | L | W | D | D | W | D | D | L | L | W | W | W | W | L | W | W | L | D | W | D | W |
| Position | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 |

### Scores Overview

| Opposition | Home Score | Away Score | Double |
| - | - | - | - |
| Arsenal | 2 – 0 | 2 – 1 | Y |
| Aston Villa | 0 – 0 | 0 – 3 | N |
| Birmingham City | 1 – 1 | 1 – 0 | N |
| Bolton Wanderers | 0 – 0 | 1 – 1 | N |
| Charlton Athletic | 1 – 0 | 1 – 3 | N |
| Chelsea | 2 – 3 | 2 – 1 | N |
| Everton | 0 – 1 | 1 – 2 | N |
| Fulham | 2 – 1 | 4 – 0 | Y |
| Leeds United | 1 – 0 | 3 – 2 | Y |
| Liverpool | 2 – 2 | 1 – 1 | N |
| Manchester City | 1 – 0 | 2 – 2 | N |
| Manchester United | 1 – 0 | 1 – 3 | N |
| Middlesbrough | 1 – 0 | 0 – 1 | N |
| Newcastle United | 5 – 2 | 1 – 5 | N |
| Southampton | 1 – 0 | 1 – 1 | N |
| Sunderland | 0 – 0 | 0 – 0 | N |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 1 – 2 | 4 – 0 | N |
| West Bromwich Albion | 1 – 1 | 2 – 0 | N |
| West Ham United | 2 – 2 | 1 – 2 | N |
