2003–04 Hibernian F.C. season

Season 2003–04 was a disappointment for Hibernian, as the team again finished in the bottom half of the Scottish Premier League, and was knocked out at the first stage of the Scottish Cup. The main highlight of the season was the run to the 2004 Scottish League Cup Final, which Hibs reached by defeating both halves of the Old Firm. This also ended in disappointment, however, as the Final was lost 2–0 to Livingston. A month after that defeat, manager Bobby Williamson was allowed to leave the club to manage Plymouth Argyle.[2]

Hibernian
2003–04 season
ChairmanKen Lewandowski
ManagerBobby Williamson (until 20 April 2004)
SPL8th
Scottish CupR3
CIS CupFinal
Top goalscorerLeague: Riordan, 15
All: Riordan, 18
Highest home attendance15060[1]
Lowest home attendance5447[1]
Average home league attendance9150[1] (down 787)

League season

With the Hibs squad "stretched to its limits" by injuries to Ian Murray, Grant Brebner, Stephen Glass and Yannick Zambernardi, Hibs again struggled in the league.[2] Financial problems meant that the club had sold or released many of its senior players during Bobby Williamson's time in charge, and even Williamson's own long-term contract was renegotiated to a shorter term and lower salary.[2] The Hibs board were also apparently willing to allow Plymouth Argyle to take Williamson when made an approach in April 2004.[2] Williamson's assistants, Gerry McCabe and Jim Clark, took charge of the team for the remainder of the season,[3] with Tony Mowbray appointed soon after its conclusion.[4]

Results

9 August 2003 SPL Dundee United 1–2 Hibernian Tannadice Park, Dundee
Samuel 46' Riordan 74'
McManus 88' (pen.)
Attendance: 9,809
Referee: Clark
17 August 2003 SPL Hibernian 1–0 Heart of Midlothian Easter Road, Edinburgh
O'Connor 90' Attendance: 14,803
Referee: Dougal
23 August 2003 SPL Rangers 5–2 Hibernian Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow
Mols 34', 62'
Murray 43' (o.g.)
Arteta 67'
Burke 84'
Murray 29'
McManus 36'
Attendance: 49,642
Referee: McDonald
30 August 2003 SPL Hibernian 1–1 Aberdeen Easter Road, Edinburgh
Brown 69' Anderson 6' Attendance: 10,682
Referee: Brines
13 September 2003 SPL Hibernian 0–2 Motherwell Easter Road, Edinburgh
Clarkson 45', 75' Attendance: 8,387
Referee: Clark
27 September 2003 SPL Hibernian 1–2 Celtic Easter Road, Edinburgh
Doumbe 38' Thompson 40' (pen.)
Larsson 51'
Attendance: 12,032
Referee: Freeland
4 October 2003 SPL Partick Thistle 0–1 Hibernian Firhill Stadium, Glasgow
Brebner 90' Attendance: 4,125
Referee: Rowbotham
18 October 2003 SPL Hibernian 0–2 Livingston Easter Road, Edinburgh
Lilley 38', 83' Attendance: 8,562
Referee: Thomson
25 October 2003 SPL Hibernian 3–1 Kilmarnock Easter Road, Edinburgh
Murdock 13'
Riordan 16'
O'Connor 90'
Nish 80' Attendance: 7,191
Referee: Underhill
1 November 2003 SPL Dundee 1–1 Hibernian Dens Park, Dundee
Novo 33' Riordan 81' Attendance: 7,032
Referee: Clark
8 November 2003 SPL Hibernian 2–2 Dundee United Easter Road, Edinburgh
Brown 15'
McCracken 90' (o.g.)
McLaren 28'
Robson 83'
Attendance: 8,756
Referee: Richmond
23 November 2003 SPL Heart of Midlothian 2–0 Hibernian Tynecastle, Edinburgh
Orman 9' (o.g.)
Smith 67' (o.g.)
Attendance: 16,632
Referee: Dallas
30 November 2003 SPL Hibernian 0–1 Rangers Easter Road, Edinburgh
Hughes 90' Attendance: 11,160
Referee: Dougal
7 December 2003 SPL Aberdeen 3–1 Hibernian Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen
Hinds 26'
Booth 85', 90' (pen.)
Dobbie 57' Attendance: 7,863
Referee: Clark
13 December 2003 SPL Motherwell 0–1 Hibernian Fir Park, Motherwell
Riordan 90' Attendance: 4,533
Referee: Thomson
21 December 2003 SPL Hibernian 1–2 Dunfermline Athletic Easter Road, Edinburgh
Riordan 63' Brewster 1', 36' Attendance: 9,085
Referee: Fyfe
27 December 2003 SPL Celtic 6–0 Hibernian Celtic Park, Glasgow
Sutton 4', 54' (pen.)
Hartson 45', 60'
Larsson 66'
Petrov 77'
Attendance: 59,609
Referee: Freeland
3 January 2004 SPL Hibernian 3–2 Partick Thistle Easter Road, Edinburgh
O'Connor 9'
Dobbie 35'
Whittaker 84'
Grady 53'
Madaschi 78'
Attendance: 8,875
Referee: Brines
17 January 2004 SPL Livingston 1–0 Hibernian Almondvale, Livingston
Makel 26' Attendance: 5,621
Referee: Underhill
24 January 2004 SPL Kilmarnock 0–2 Hibernian Rugby Park, Kilmarnock
Brown 48'
O'Connor 50'
Attendance: 5,571
Referee: Dallas
31 January 2004 SPL Hibernian 1–1 Dundee Easter Road, Edinburgh
Riordan 69' (pen.) Fotheringham 44' Attendance: 8,023
Referee: Conroy
10 February 2004 SPL Dundee United 0–0 Hibernian Tannadice Park, Dundee
Attendance: 6,389
Referee: Thomson
15 February 2004 SPL Hibernian 1–1 Heart of Midlothian Easter Road, Edinburgh
Riordan 24' Pressley 47' (pen.) Attendance: 15,060
Referee: McCurry
21 February 2004 SPL Rangers 3–0 Hibernian Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow
Arveladze 9' (pen.)
Mols 66'
Thompson 83' (pen.)
Attendance: 49,698
Referee: Dallas
28 February 2004 SPL Hibernian 0–1 Aberdeen Easter Road, Edinburgh
Morrison 5' Attendance: 10,416
Referee: Brines
21 March 2004 SPL Hibernian 0–4 Celtic Easter Road, Edinburgh
Agathe 18', 81'
Larsson 35', 49'
Attendance: 9,456
Referee: McDonald
24 March 2004 SPL Hibernian 3–3 Motherwell Easter Road, Edinburgh
Nicol 6'
Reid 37'
Riordan 62' (pen.)
Lasley 46'
Adams 60' (pen.)
Doumbe 80' (o.g.)
Attendance: 5,670
Referee: Freeland
27 March 2004 SPL Partick Thistle 1–1 Hibernian Firhill Stadium, Glasgow
Thomson 70' (pen.) Murdock 68' Attendance: 3,155
Referee: Rowbotham
3 April 2004 SPL Hibernian 3–1 Livingston Easter Road, Edinburgh
McManus 39'
Riordan 54', 83'
Lilley 50' Attendance: 6,507
Referee: Dallas
10 April 2004 SPL Hibernian 3–0 Kilmarnock Easter Road, Edinburgh
Caldwell 22'
Thomson 45'
Riordan 64' (pen.)
Attendance: 7,326
Referee: Toner
17 April 2004 SPL Dundee 2–2 Hibernian Dens Park, Dundee
Lovell 38'
Milne 90'
Riordan 45'
Riordan 50' (pen.)
Attendance: 5,508
Referee: McDonald
24 April 2004 SPL Kilmarnock 2–0 Hibernian Rugby Park, Kilmarnock
Boyd 28', 85' Attendance: 4,886
Referee: Clark
1 May 2004 SPL Hibernian 1–0 Dundee Easter Road, Edinburgh
Riordan 42' Attendance: 6,180
Referee: Mackay
5 May 2004 SPL Hibernian 1–2 Partick Thistle Easter Road, Edinburgh
Murdock 33' Grady 38'
Murdock 60' (o.g.)
Attendance: 5,447
Referee: Thomson
8 May 2004 SPL Aberdeen 0–1 Hibernian Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen
O'Connor 90' Attendance: 6,781
Referee: Clark
15 May 2004 SPL Livingston 4–1 Hibernian Almondvale, Livingston
Lovell 8'
Lilley 64'
Fernandez 78'
Makel 89'
Doumbe 75' Attendance: 4,409
Referee: McCurry

Final table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation[lower-alpha 1]
6 Motherwell 38 12 10 16 42 49 7 46
7 Dundee 38 12 10 16 48 57 9 46
8 Hibernian 38 11 11 16 41 60 19 44 Qualification for the UEFA Intertoto Cup second round[lower-alpha 2]
9 Livingston 38 10 13 15 48 57 9 43
10 Kilmarnock 38 12 6 20 51 74 23 42
Source: Scottish Professional Football League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
Notes:
  1. Teams played each other three times (33 matches), before the league split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six) for the last five matches.
  2. Hibernian qualified for the 2004 UEFA Intertoto Cup as the highest placed team to apply to participate in the competition.

Scottish League Cup

As one of the SPL clubs who had not automatically qualified for European competition, Hibs entered at the last 32 stage (second round) of the competition, in which they defeated Montrose 9–0 at Easter Road. Hibs were then given another home draw in the last 16, against Queen of the South, which Hibs won 2–1. In the quarter-final, Hibs were again drawn to play at home, but this time had to face league leaders Celtic. Despite falling behind early in the second half, Hibs won 2–1 thanks to a late goal by Kevin Thomson. Hibs were then given another tough draw for the semi-final, playing the other half of the Old Firm, Rangers. Nonetheless, Hibs won the tie 4–3 on penalties, with Frank de Boer's miss sending Hibs through. These two upset victories sent Hibs to the Final, where they met Livingston.[2] Hibs sold a remarkable 37,000 tickets for the game, suggesting that the club still had the drawing power to be a major force in Scottish football.[2] The match ended in major disappointment, however, as Livingston won 2–0 to lift the trophy.[2]

Results

23 September 2003 Scottish League Cup Hibernian 9–0 Montrose Easter Road, Edinburgh
Dobbie 1', 29', 31' (pen.)
O'Connor 18', 85'
Murray 66'
Kerrigan 70' (o.g.)
Riordan 78'
Brown 86'
Attendance: 5,032
Referee: Toner
18 December 2003 Scottish League Cup Hibernian 2–1 Celtic Easter Road, Edinburgh
Brebner 64' (pen.)
Thomson 82'
Varga 56' Attendance: 9,246
Referee: Rowbotham
5 February 2004 Scottish League Cup Hibernian 1–1 AET
(4 – 3 pen.)
Rangers Hampden Park, Glasgow
Dobbie 79' Mols 40' Attendance: 27,954
Referee: Clark
14 March 2004 Scottish League Cup Hibernian 0–2 Livingston Hampden Park, Glasgow
Lilley 50'
McAllister 52'
Attendance: 45,500
Referee: Young

Scottish Cup

Results

10 January 2004 Scottish Cup Hibernian 0–2 Rangers Easter Road, Edinburgh
Arveladze 35'
Løvenkrands 49'
Attendance: 11,392
Referee: McCurry

Transfers

Player stats

During the 2003–04 season, Hibs used 27 different players in competitive games. The table below shows the number of appearances and goals scored by each player.[5][6] Goalkeeper Daniel Andersson was the only player to appear in every match, playing in 38 SPL matches, five League Cup ties and the one Scottish Cup tie.

No. Pos Nat Player TotalSPLScottish CupLeague Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GK Sweden SWE Daniel Andersson 4403801050
DF Scotland SCO Jonathan Baillie 30200010
DF Scotland SCO Gary Caldwell 1911710020
DF France FRA Mathias Kouo-Doumbé 3923321050
DF England ENG Roland Edge 2402000040
DF Scotland SCO John Kane 10100000
DF Northern Ireland NIR Colin Murdock 3733231040
DF Scotland SCO Jay Shields 10100000
DF Scotland SCO Gary Smith 2302001020
DF Scotland SCO Steven Whittaker 3312811040
DF France FRA Yannick Zambernardi 80800000
MF Scotland SCO Grant Brebner 2622211031
MF Scotland SCO Scott Brown 4143631041
MF Scotland SCO Stephen Glass 1401200020
MF Scotland SCO Jamie McCluskey 10100000
MF England ENG Kevin McDonald 10100000
MF Scotland SCO Ian Murray 1621410021
MF Scotland SCO Kevin Nicol 1611511000
MF Austria AUT Alen Orman 2001800020
MF Scotland SCO Alan Reid 2312010030
MF Scotland SCO Kevin Thomson 2722311031
MF Finland FIN Jarkko Wiss 1401300010
FW Scotland SCO Stephen Dobbie 3362821044
FW Scotland SCO Steven Fletcher 50500000
FW Scotland SCO Tam McManus 3733230050
FW Scotland SCO Garry O'Connor 3973351052
FW Scotland SCO Derek Riordan 401834151053

See also

Notes

  1. "Average Home League Game Attendances". fitbastats.com. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  2. Few Hibees will mourn Williamson, BBC Sport, 20 April 2004.
  3. "Thordarson rejects Hibs". BBC Sport. 3 May 2004.
  4. "Mowbray is new Hibs boss". BBC Sport. 24 May 2004.
  5. "Hibernian 2003/2004 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 13 December 2009.
  6. The soccerbase statistics inaccurately attribute Kevin Thomson's appearance against Rangers on 30 November 2003 to "Steven Thomson".
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