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During the 2003–04 English football season, Blackburn Rovers competed in the FA Premier League (known as the FA Barclaycard Premiership for sponsorship reasons).

Season summary

Finishing sixth in the Premiership at the end of 2002–03 had booked Blackburn Rovers their second successive UEFA Cup campaign, but it was short-lived. A 5–1 opening-day victory against newly promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers kickstarted their new season, however, their overall Premiership form was far too dismal to give the side any hope of a third successive European qualification. Indeed, much of the season was spent battling against relegation; a decent finish to the season saw relegation fears eradicated by the end of April. Rovers finished 15th in the final table, putting intense pressure on manager Graeme Souness to turn things around.

Final league table

Players

First-team squad

Squad at end of season

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  USA Brad Friedel 2 DF  AUS Lucas Neill 3 DF  SVK Vratislav Greško 5 DF  ITA Lorenzo Amoruso 6 DF  ENG Craig Short 7 MF  ENG Garry Flitcroft 8 MF  TUR Tugay Kerimoğlu 9 FW  ENG Andy Cole 10 FW  ENG Matt Jansen 11 DF  GER Markus Babbel (on loan from Liverpool) 12 MF  IRL Steven Reid 14 DF  SWE Nils-Eric Johansson

No. Pos. Nation Player 15 DF  ENG Andy Todd 17 FW  SCO Paul Gallagher 18 FW  ENG Jonathan Stead 19 FW  TRI Dwight Yorke 20 MF  ENG David Thompson 23 MF  AUS Brett Emerton 24 MF  SCO Barry Ferguson 25 MF  NOR Martin Andresen (on loan from Stabæk) 26 MF  IRL Jonathan Douglas 30 MF  ENG Neil Danns 31 GK  FIN Peter Enckelman 33 DF  ENG Michael Gray

Left club during season

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 4 DF  ENG Martin Taylor (to Birmingham City) 13 GK  IRL Alan Kelly (retired) 16 MF  IRL Alan Mahon (on loan to Ipswich Town; to Wigan Athletic) 18 FW  ITA Corrado Grabbi (to Ancona) 21 MF  ITA Dino Baggio (on loan from Lazio)

No. Pos. Nation Player 22 FW  NOR Egil Østenstad (to Rangers) 25 DF  GER Sebastian Pelzer (to Eintracht Trier) 26 MF  IRL Jonathan Douglas (on loan to Blackpool) 27 DF  SCO Gordon Greer (to Kilmarnock) 30 MF  ENG Neil Danns (on loan to Blackpool and Hartlepool United)

Reserve squad

The following players did not appear for the first-team this season.

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 22 MF  ENG Ciaran Donnelly 28 GK  GER David Yelldell 29 DF  ENG Jay McEveley — DF  ENG Alex Bruce — DF  ENG Michael Taylor — DF  SCO Craig Barr — DF  IRL John Fitzgerald

No. Pos. Nation Player — DF  IRL Gavin Peers — MF  ENG Jerome Watt — MF  SCO Ian Black — MF  SCO Gary Harkins — MF  SCO Alan Morgan — FW  ENG Matt Derbyshire — FW  USA Jemal Johnson

Statistics

Appearances and goals

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Premier League		FA Cup		League Cup		UEFA Cup
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Goalkeepers
1	GK	USA	Brad Friedel	40	1	36	1	1	0	1	0	2	0
31	GK	FIN	Peter Enckelman	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Defenders
2	DF	AUS	Lucas Neill	35	2	30+2	2	1	0	1	0	1	0
3	DF	SVK	Vratislav Greško	28	1	22+2	1	1	0	1	0	2	0
5	DF	ITA	Lorenzo Amoruso	14	3	11+1	3	0	0	0	0	2	0
6	DF	ENG	Craig Short	20	1	19	1	1	0	0	0	0	0
11	DF	GER	Markus Babbel	28	3	23+2	3	1	0	1	0	1	0
14	DF	SWE	Nils-Eric Johansson	15	0	7+7	0	0	0	0+1	0	0	0
15	DF	ENG	Andy Todd	21	0	19	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
33	DF	ENG	Michael Gray	14	0	14	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Midfielders
7	MF	ENG	Garry Flitcroft	33	3	29+2	3	1	0	0	0	1	0
8	MF	TUR	Tugay Kerimoğlu	40	1	30+6	1	1	0	1	0	2	0
12	MF	IRL	Steven Reid	19	0	9+7	0	0	0	1	0	1+1	0
20	MF	ENG	David Thompson	14	1	10+1	1	0	0	1	0	2	0
23	MF	AUS	Brett Emerton	40	3	31+6	2	0	0	0+1	0	2	1
24	MF	SCO	Barry Ferguson	16	2	14+1	1	0	0	1	1	0	0
25	MF	NOR	Martin Andresen	11	0	11	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
26	MF	IRL	Jonathan Douglas	14	1	14	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
30	MF	ENG	Neil Danns	1	0	0+1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Forwards
9	FW	ENG	Andy Cole	37	11	27+7	11	1	0	1	0	0+1	0
10	FW	ENG	Matt Jansen	21	3	9+10	2	0	0	0	0	2	1
17	FW	SCO	Paul Gallagher	28	3	12+14	3	1	0	0+1	0	0	0
18	FW	ENG	Jon Stead	15	6	13	6	0	0	0	0	1+1	0
19	FW	TRI	Dwight Yorke	27	6	15+8	4	0+1	0	1	2	1+1	0
Players transferred out during the season
4	DF	ENG	Martin Taylor	14	0	10+1	0	0+1	0	1	0	0+1	0
16	MF	IRL	Alan Mahon	4	0	1+2	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
18	FW	ITA	Corrado Grabbi	7	0	0+5	0	0	0	0	0	1+1	0
21	MF	ITA	Dino Baggio	12	1	0+9	1	0+1	0	0	0	1+1	0

Last updated: 31 May 2004
Source:

Starting 11

Considering appearances in all competitions

• GK: #1, Brad Friedel, 40
• RB: #2, Lucas Neill, 33
• CB: #11, Markus Babbel, 26
• CB: #6, Craig Short, 26 (#15, Andy Todd, has 21 starts)
• LB: #3, Vratislav Greško, 26
• RM: #23, Brett Emerton, 33
• CM: #8, Tugay Kerimoğlu, 34
• CM: #7, Garry Flitcroft, 31 (#24, Barry Ferguson, has 15 starts)
• LM: #26, Jonathan Douglas, 14
• CF: #9, Andy Cole, 29
• CF: #19, Dwight Yorke, 17

Results

Premier League

Results by matchday

16 August 2003 1	Blackburn Rovers	5–1	Wolverhampton Wanderers	Blackburn, Lancashire
15:00 BST	Amoruso 17' Thompson 29' Emerton 52' Cole 79', 87'	Report	Iversen 71'	Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 26,270 Referee: Jeff Winter

23 August 2003 2	Bolton Wanderers	2–2	Blackburn Rovers	Bolton, Greater Manchester
15:00 BST	Djorkaeff 3' (pen.) Davies 25'	Report	Jansen 50' Yorke 90'	Stadium: Reebok Stadium Attendance: 27,423 Referee: Andy D'Urso

25 August 2003 3	Blackburn Rovers	2–3	Manchester City	Blackburn, Lancashire
20:00	Sinclair 44' (o.g.) Amoruso 61'	Report	4' Tarnat 59' Barton 87' Anelka	Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 23,361 Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire)

30 August 2003 4	Chelsea	2–2	Blackburn Rovers	Fulham, London
15:00 BST (UTC+01)	Mutu 45' Hasselbaink 63' (pen.)	Report	Cole 1', 58'	Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 41,066 Referee: Mike Dean

12 September 2003 5	Blackburn Rovers	1–3	Liverpool	Blackburn, Lancashire
15:00	Jansen 8' Neill  45'	Report	Owen 12' (pen.), 68' Kewell 90'	Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 30,074 Referee: Neale Barry

20 September 2003 6	Portsmouth	1–2	Blackburn Rovers	Portsmouth, Hampshire
15:00	De Zeeuw 57'	Report	Neill 35' Cole 43'	Stadium: Fratton Park Attendance: 20,024 Referee: Paul Durkin

28 September 2003 7	Blackburn Rovers	0–2	Fulham	Blackburn, Lancashire
15:00		Report	Luís Boa Morte 5' Louis Saha 56'	Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 21,985 Referee: Matt Messias

4 October 2003 8	Leeds United	2–1	Blackburn Rovers	Leeds, West Yorkshire
15:00	Johnson 11', 27'	Report	Baggio 86'	Stadium: Elland Road Attendance: 35,039 Referee: Uriah Rennie

20 October 2003 9	Blackburn Rovers	0–1	Charlton Athletic	Blackburn, Lancashire
20:00 BST		Report	Hreidarsson 33'	Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 19,939 Referee: Graham Barber

25 October 2003 10	Southampton	2–0	Blackburn Rovers	Southampton, Hampshire
15:00	Beattie 59' Griffit 87'	Report		Stadium: St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 31,620 Referee: Steve Bennett

2 November 2003 11	Leicester City	2–0	Blackburn Rovers	Leicester, Leicestershire
16:05	Bent 75' Howey 82'	Report		Stadium: Walkers Stadium Attendance: 30,975 Referee: Dermot Gallagher

10 November 2003 12	Blackburn Rovers	2–1	Everton	Blackburn, Lancashire
20:00	Babbel 6' Yorke 13'	Report	Radzinski 49'	Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 22,179 Referee: Paul Dowd

22 November 2003 13	Manchester United	2–1	Blackburn Rovers	Trafford, Greater Manchester
12:30	van Nistelrooy 24' Kleberson 38'	Report	Emerton 62'	Stadium: Old Trafford Attendance: 67,748 Referee: Mark Halsey

29 November 2003 14	Blackburn Rovers	1–0	Tottenham Hotspur	Blackburn, Lancashire
15:00	Greško 78'	Report		Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 22,802 Referee: Graham Poll

6 December 2003 15	Birmingham City	0–4	Blackburn Rovers	Birmingham, West Midlands
15:00 GMT (UTC)	Dugarry  72'	Report	Ferguson 66' Neill 68' Tugay 82' Gallagher 88'	Stadium: St Andrew's Attendance: 29,354 Referee: Graham Barber

14 December 2003 (2003-12-14) 16	Arsenal	1–0	Blackburn Rovers	Islington, London
14:00 GMT	Bergkamp 11'	Report		Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 37,677 Referee: Andy D'Urso

20 December 2003 17	Blackburn Rovers	0–2	Aston Villa	Blackburn, Lancashire
15:00		Report	Moore 62' Ángel 75'	Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 20,722 Referee: Dermot Gallagher

26 December 2003 18	Blackburn Rovers	2–2	Middlesbrough	Blackburn, Lancashire
15:00	Babbel 3', 90'	Report	Juninho 31', 51'	Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 25,452 Referee: Alan Wiley

28 December 2003 19	Newcastle United	0–1	Blackburn Rovers	Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
14:00		Report	Gallagher 72'	Stadium: St James' Park Attendance: 51,648 Referee: Mark Halsey

7 January 2004 20	Wolverhampton Wanderers	2–2	Blackburn Rovers	Wolverhampton, West Midlands
19:45 GMT	Butler 63' Rae 72'	Report	Cole 14' Yorke 78'	Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 27,393 Referee: Neale Barry

10 January 2004 21	Blackburn Rovers	3–4	Bolton Wanderers	Blackburn, Lancashire
	Greško 3' Yorke 24' Cole 34'	Report	Nolan 1', 78' Djorkaeff 43' Giannakopoulos 73'	Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 23,538 Referee: Steve Dunn

17 January 2004 22	Manchester City	1–1	Blackburn Rovers	Manchester, Greater Manchester
15:00	Anelka 50'	Report	55' Flitcroft	Stadium: City of Manchester Stadium Attendance: 47,090 Referee: Mike Dean

1 February 2004 23	Blackburn Rovers	2–3	Chelsea	Blackburn, Lancashire
	Flitcroft 3' Gallagher 87'	Report	Lampard 25', 35' Johnson 88'	Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 24,867 Referee: Dermot Gallagher

7 February 2004 24	Middlesbrough	0–1	Blackburn Rovers	Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire
		Report	Stead 39'	Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 28,307 Referee: Rob Styles

11 February 2004 25	Blackburn Rovers	1–1	Newcastle United	Blackburn, Lancashire
	Jon Stead 85'	Report	Craig Bellamy 52'	Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 23,459 Referee: Matt Messias

21 February 2004 26	Charlton Athletic	3–2	Blackburn Rovers	Greenwich, London
	Cole 10' Euell 36' Jensen 90'	Report	Cole 74' Friedel 90'	Stadium: The Valley Attendance: 26,332 Referee: Uriah Rennie

28 February 2004 27	Blackburn Rovers	1–1	Southampton	Blackburn, Lancashire
	Andy Cole 52'	Report	Kevin Phillips 5'	Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 21,970 Referee: Mike Dean

13 March 2004 (2004-03-13) 28	Blackburn Rovers	0–2	Arsenal	Blackburn, Lancashire
15:00 GMT		Report	Henry 57' Pires 87'	Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 28,627 Referee: Alan Wiley

20 March 2004 29	Aston Villa	0–2	Blackburn Rovers	Birmingham, West Midlands
15:00		Report	Flitcroft 26' Stead 36'	Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 37,532 Referee: Andy D'Urso

27 March 2004 30	Blackburn Rovers	1–2	Portsmouth	Blackburn, Lancashire
	Tugay 37'	Report	Sheringham 17' Yakubu 82'	Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 22,855 Referee: Paul Durkin

4 April 2004 31	Liverpool	4–0	Blackburn Rovers	Liverpool, Merseyside
	Owen 7', 24' Todd 22' (o.g.) Heskey 79'	Report		Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 41,559 Referee: Jeff Winter

10 April 2004 32	Blackburn Rovers	1–2	Leeds United	Blackburn, Lancashire
	Short 90'	Report	Caldwell 2' Viduka 89'	Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 26,611 Referee: Steve Dunn

12 April 2004 33	Fulham	3–4	Blackburn Rovers	Fulham, London
	John 26', 45' Boa Morte 60'	Report	Cole 23' Douglas 49' Amoruso 51' Stead 75'	Attendance: 13,981 Referee: Mike Dean

17 April 2004 34	Blackburn Rovers	1–0	Leicester City	Blackburn, Lancashire
	Dabizas 42' (o.g.)	Report		Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 22,749 Referee: Rob Styles

24 April 2004 35	Everton	0–1	Blackburn Rovers	Liverpool, Merseyside
		Report	Stead 81'	Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 38,884 Referee: Paul Dowd

1 May 2004 36	Blackburn Rovers	1–0	Manchester United	Blackburn, Lancashire
	Stead 85'	Report		Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 29,616 Referee: Mike Dean

8 May 2004 37	Tottenham Hotspur	1–0	Blackburn Rovers	Haringey, London
	Defoe 18'	Report		Stadium: White Hart Lane Attendance: 35,698 Referee: Andy D'Urso

15 May 2004 38	Blackburn Rovers	1–1	Birmingham City	Blackburn, Lancashire
15:00 BST (UTC+01)	Cole 24'	Report	John 83'	Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 26,070 Referee: Dermot Gallagher

FA Cup

3 January 2004 Third round	Birmingham City	4–0	Blackburn Rovers	Birmingham, West Midlands
15:00	Morrison 23' Clemence 36' Forssell 78' Hughes 84'	Report		Stadium: St Andrew's Attendance: 18,688 Referee: Paul Durkin

League Cup

29 October 2003 Third round	Blackburn Rovers	3–4	Liverpool	Blackburn, Lancashire
20:00	Yorke 35', 90' Ferguson 81'	Report	Murphy 39' (pen.) Heskey 49', 61' Kewell 79'	Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 16,918 Referee: Mike Riley

UEFA Cup

24 September 2003 First round 1 First leg	Gençlerbirliği S.K.	3–1	Blackburn Rovers	Ankara 19 Mayıs Stadium
14:55	Skoko 42' Youla 43', 60'	Report	Emerton 57'	Attendance: Ulus, Ankara Referee: Paolo Vertini (Italy)

15 October 2003 Round 1 Leg 2	Blackburn Rovers	1–1	Gençlerbirliği S.K.	Blackburn, Lancashire
20:15	Jansen 64'	Report	Özkan 66'	Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 14,573 Referee: Eric Braamhaar (Netherlands)

Top scorers

Premiership

• Andy Cole 11
• Jon Stead 6
• Dwight Yorke 4
• Lorenzo Amoruso 3
• Markus Babbel 3

Notes

1. Reid was born in Kingston upon Thames, England, but also qualifies to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally through his mother, and made his international debut for the Republic of Ireland in 2001.
2. Yelldell was born in Stuttgart, West Germany, but also qualified to represent the United States internationally and made his international debut for the United States in March 2011
3. McEveley was born in Liverpool, England, but also qualified to represent Scotland internationally and made his full international debut for Scotland in August 2007

References

1. "All Blackburn Rovers players: 2004". 11v11.com.
2. "Blackburn Rovers in FA Premier League 2003/2004 analysis and predictions". Football-Lineups.

External links

• FootballSquads – Blackburn Rovers – 2003/04

• Blackburn Rovers F.C. seasons
• 2003–04 FA Premier League by team