2003–04 Birmingham City F.C. season

Pre-season friendlies

Note 1: Matches were played as part of the FA Premier League Asia Cup tournament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Season review

Having avoided relegation in their first season in the Premier League with seven wins from the last eleven games, Birmingham were expected to struggle. They were unbeaten in the league at the end of September, and went into November still in fourth place. During a poor spell in the middle of the season Steve Bruce's side fell as low as tenth, though they rallied again and stood one point off fourth place with eight matches to go. In contrast to the previous season, one win from the last eleven games gave Birmingham a tenth-place finish, six points behind city rivals Aston Villa, who had been struggling against relegation at the turn of the year.

August

Birmingham's first game of the season was televised live on Sky Sports on August 16. They beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 at St Andrew's, courtesy of a debut goal by David Dunn. The midfielder netted from the penalty spot after Anthony Gardner fouled Robbie Savage.

Steve Bruce's side battled to draw 0-0 at Southampton the following weekend. Both sides had chances to win the match as James Beattie struck the post and Stern John saw a shot cleared off the line.

Birmingham overcame Newcastle United 1-0 at St James' Park as their impressive form continued. Gary Speed brought down Damien Johnson in the box but Dunn saw his penalty saved. Dunn scored the rebound to give Birmingham a second league win in three games. In the game, referee Matt Messias unintentionally floored Blues midfielder Robbie Savage with a flying elbow as he signalled a free-kick.

The win saw Birmingham climb to 6th in the table as they entered September.

September

Birmingham signed Mikael Forssell on a season-long loan from Chelsea before the transfer window shut. The Finn impressed on his debut live on Sky Sports in a lively 2-2 draw against Fulham at St Andrew's. Louis Saha gave the away side an early lead but Forssell equalised moments before half-time. Sylvain Legwinski was harshly sent off for tripping David Dunn. Fulham still took a late lead through Luis Boa Morte but Forssell levelled from close range on 82 minutes. Darren Purse was then dismissed by referee Steve Dunn after an altercation with Boa Morte in the aftermath of the goal.

Leeds lost 2-0 to Birmingham at Elland Road after they had Roque Junior sent off on 77 minutes. He brought down Mikael Forssell in the box and David Dunn stepped up to take the spot-kick. He saw his penalty saved by Paul Robinson but the assistant referee deemed the goalkeeper moved before the ball was kicked. Robbie Savage made no mistake with the retake and Forssell's smart finish late on sealed the win.

Birmingham made their best start to a league season courtesy of their win over Portsmouth at St Andrews on September 27. Stephen Clemence and Stan Lazaridis each scored for Blues and moved their side to fourth in the table.

October

Manchester United stunted Birmingham's strong start by beating them 3-0 at Old Trafford on 4 October. Goalkeeper Maik Taylor was sent off by referee Mike Dean on 38 minutes after he fouled Paul Scholes. Ruud van Nistelrooy scored the penalty and Scholes and Ryan Giggs added to the lead in the second period.

Birmingham held Chelsea to a 0-0 draw at St Andrew's on 14 October. Birmingham's watertight defence kept Chelsea at bay and ensured they remained 4th in the league.

Aston Villa came to St Andrews's in search of their first win over arch-rivals Birmingham in the Premiership. They lost the two encounters the season before. Stephen Clemence came the closest for Birmingham with a long-range effort, which was denied by a fine Thomas Sorensen save.

Birmingham beat Bolton Wanderers 1-0 at the end of the month to notch their fifth league win of the season. The lively Forssell scored on 31 minutes after a swift counterattack. The clean sheet ensured Birmingham only conceded three goals in the whole of October.

November

A Matt Holland brace condemned Birmingham to their second defeat of the season as Charlton moved up to seventh place in the Premiership on November 3. The game saw Christophe Dugarry score his last goal for Birmingham with a powerful header on 64 minutes but the hosts were unable to rescue a late point.

Mikael Forssell scored his fifth league goal of the season in Birmingham's 1-1 draw at home to local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers to give his side a 48th minute advantage, but the impressive forward Stefan Iversen snatched his side a draw.

Birmingham slipped to eighth after a 3-0 home loss to Arsenal on November 22. Freddie Ljungberg, Dennis Bergkamp and Robert Pires scored as Arsenal made it 13 games unbeaten.

The defeat was followed another loss as Liverpool rallied to beat Birmingham 3-1 at Anfield. Forssell gave Birmingham the lead on 33 minutes but Liverpool's dogged resilience saw them fight back. Goals from Steven Gerrard, Harry Kewell and Emile Heskey saw The Reds celebrate their first win over Birmingham in the Premiership.

December

December began badly for Birmingham as Blackburn Rovers thrashed them 4-0 at St Andrew's. Barry Ferguson grabbed his first Premiership goal since his switch from Rangers to set Rovers on their way in the 66th minute. Lucas Neill added the second just two minutes later, Tugay made sure of a vital three points with a superb piledriver before Paul Gallagher added a fourth. Christophe Dugarry was sent off on 72 minutes after receiving two yellow cards.

But Birmingham bounced back to defeat Leicester City 2-0 at the Walker's Stadium in a highly charged Midlands derby. Referee Mike Riley sent off Leicester skipper Matt Elliott after he caught David Dunn with his forearm in an aerial challenge. Minutes later Clinton Morrison opened his account for the season, latching onto Jamie Clapham's excellent cross. Leicester goalkeeper Ian Walker was sent off for handling outside his penalty area on 61 minutes before Forssell headed home City's second.

Birmingham scored twice in the last 10 minutes to come from behind and beat Manchester City at St Andrews on Boxing Day 2003. Robbie Fowler put Manchester City ahead on 14 minutes but Blues defender Jeff Kenna scored a rare goal to equalise on 81 minutes from a free-kick. And Birmingham won it on 87 minutes after Mikael Forssell netted for the eighth time in the league that season.

Wayne Rooney grabbed the only goal of the game when Birmingham made the trip up to Everton on December 28. Birmingham ended the calendar year in 10th place in the table.

January

Stephane Dalmat impressed and scored twice as Tottenham Hotspur thumped Birmingham 4-1 at White Hart Lane. Robbie Savage scored from the penalty spot on 68 minutes but Birmingham conceded three in a dismal first half and a late Robbie Keane strike.

Jeff Kenna struck against his former club in Birmingham's 2-1 win over Southampton at St Andrew's. It was Birmingham's first victory in three games but they had to come from behind after Brett Ormerod put Saints ahead on six minutes. A Fitz Hall own goal restored parity on 16 minutes after a header from a corner deflected off the defender and in. Kenna scored the winner after playing a great one-two with Clinton Morrison and side-footing past Antti Niemi. David Prutton was sent off minutes later for elbowing Kenna.

Birmingham recorded their second 0-0 draw against Chelsea that season when they visited Stamford Bridge on January 18. Defender Oliver Tebily cleared superbly off the line to deny William Gallas and Maik Taylor pulled off several fine saves to keep a clean sheet.

Newcastle visited St Andrew's on January 31. Gary Speed had given them the lead with an excellent 30-yard thunderbolt but, in a lively second-half, Bryan Hughes hit the bar and Shay Given denied Forssell with a smart stop. Deep in stoppage time, Stern John dramatically rescued a point for Birmingham when he turned home a long Kenny Cunningham free-kick.

February

Another Maik Taylor masterclass shutout Manchester City when Birmingham travelled to Eastlands on February 8. The game ended goalless after Taylor pulled off some stunning saves to deny Robbie Fowler, Antoine Sibierski and Jon Macken in particular.

Three days later Birmingham won impressively at Everton, thanks to goals by Damien Johnson, Stan Lazardis and Mikael Forssell. Birmingham took the lead on eight minutes through Johnson and doubled their advantage when Lazardis scored a spectacular second. Forssell's strike, his 10th league goal of the season, sealed a comfortable away victory.

But Birmingham fell two goals behind to Aston Villa in the Second City Derby on February 22 within 47 minutes. Darius Vassell and Thomas Hitzelsperger gave Villa the handsome advantage but Forssell rifled home for Blues on 60 minutes. Deep in stoppage time, Stern John pounced from two yards out to rescue a point for the plucky away side.

March

Birmingham City made it seven games without defeat after they beat Middlesbrough 3-1 at St Andrew's on March 3. Martin Taylor opened the scoring, deflecting in Mikael Forssell's shot to score his first goal for Birmingham. Robbie Savage then curled in a fine free-kick on 57 minutes. Szilard Nemeth pulled a goal back with a low shot for the visitors but Forssell scored on 79 minutes to seal his side's win. It was his 13th goal of the campaign. Boudewijn Zenden was sent off late on for receiving a second yellow card after a foul on the lively Damien Johnson.

Birmingham recorded back-to-back wins by doing the double over Bolton Wanderers a week later. Forssell scored for the fourth game in a row to give Steve Bruce's side a 29th minute advantage and Bryan Hughes netted his first goal of the season for Birmingham in the second half. The victory saw the club climb to fifth in the table.

Results summary

Source:

FA Cup

Birmingham reached the fifth round of the 2003–04 FA Cup before losing to Sunderland of Division One after a replay.

League Cup

Birmingham lost in the second round of the 2003–04 League Cup to Blackpool of Division Two.

Out

Brackets round club names denote the player joined that club after his Birmingham City contract expired.

Appearances and goals

Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute. Players with squad numbers struck through and marked left the club during the playing season. Players with names in italics and marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with Birmingham.