# 2003–04 Nottingham Forest F.C. season

During the 2003–04 English football season, Nottingham Forest competed in the Football League First Division.

## Season summary

The 2003–2004 season saw Paul Hart suffer from a squad that was low in confidence and with no money. However, Forest started reasonably well, winning five of their first seven games and after 15 games, they won seven and lost five and were in the top half of the table. Unfortunately, when they went into the bottom three, after going 14 games without a win, the Forest chairman Nigel Doughty called time on Hart's reign as Forest manager.
Joe Kinnear was then brought in to replace Hart. The club's directors looked to have made a good decision when Kinnear revitalised Forest, bringing out the best in key players like Michael Dawson and Andy Reid, and they climbed up the table to secure a safe 14th place.

## Final league table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 12 | Coventry City | 46 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 67 | 54 | +13 | 65 |
| 13 | Cardiff City | 46 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 68 | 58 | +10 | 65 |
| 14 | Nottingham Forest | 46 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 61 | 58 | +3 | 60 |
| 15 | Preston North End | 46 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 69 | 71 | −2 | 59 |
| 16 | Watford | 46 | 15 | 12 | 19 | 54 | 68 | −14 | 57 |

## Results

Nottingham Forest's score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Football League First Division

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 9 August 2003 | Sunderland | H | 2–0 | 23,579 | Harewood, Louis-Jean |
| 16 August 2003 | Reading | A | 0–3 | 16,833 | |
| 23 August 2003 | Cardiff City | H | 1–2 | 23,407 | Harewood |
| 27 August 2003 | Coventry City | A | 3–1 | 17,586 | Reid (2), Johnson |
| 30 August 2003 | Norwich City | H | 2–0 | 21,058 | Johnson, Harewood (pen) |
| 13 September 2003 | Sheffield United | H | 3–1 | 25,209 | Harewood (2, 1 pen), Reid |
| 16 September 2003 | Burnley | A | 3–0 | 12,530 | Harewood, Reid, Taylor |
| 20 September 2003 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 1–3 | 8,685 | Harewood |
| 27 September 2003 | Derby County | H | 1–1 | 29,059 | Reid |
| 1 October 2003 | Preston North End | H | 0–1 | 22,278 | |
| 4 October 2003 | Stoke City | A | 1–2 | 13,755 | Williams |
| 14 October 2003 | Rotherham United | H | 2–2 | 20,168 | Harewood (2) |
| 18 October 2003 | Wimbledon | H | 6–0 | 23,520 | Harewood (2, 1 pen), Reid, Taylor, Dawson, Morgan |
| 22 October 2003 | West Ham United | A | 1–1 | 29,544 | Reid |
| 25 October 2003 | Bradford City | A | 2–1 | 11,654 | Jess, Reid |
| 1 November 2003 | Millwall | A | 0–1 | 9,635 | |
| 4 November 2003 | Walsall | A | 1–4 | 7,321 | Reid |
| 8 November 2003 | Watford | H | 1–1 | 21,229 | Bopp |
| 22 November 2003 | Wigan Athletic | A | 2–2 | 10,403 | Thompson, Harewood |
| 29 November 2003 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 0–3 | 27,331 | |
| 3 December 2003 | Ipswich Town | H | 1–1 | 21,588 | Morgan |
| 6 December 2003 | Watford | A | 1–1 | 14,988 | Reid |
| 13 December 2003 | Crystal Palace | A | 0–1 | 16,935 | |
| 26 December 2003 | Norwich City | A | 0–1 | 16,429 | |
| 28 December 2003 | West Ham United | H | 0–2 | 27,491 | |
| 10 January 2004 | Sunderland | A | 0–1 | 26,340 | |
| 17 January 2004 | Reading | H | 0–1 | 23,116 | |
| 31 January 2004 | Cardiff City | A | 0–0 | 17,913 | |
| 7 February 2004 | Coventry City | H | 0–1 | 23,075 | |
| 14 February 2004 | Walsall | H | 3–3 | 25,012 | Impey, King, Taylor |
| 21 February 2004 | Rotherham United | A | 1–1 | 9,046 | Jess |
| 25 February 2004 | Gillingham | H | 0–0 | 26,473 | |
| 28 February 2004 | Bradford City | H | 2–1 | 26,021 | Reid, Taylor |
| 2 March 2004 | Wimbledon | A | 1–0 | 6,317 | Taylor |
| 6 March 2004 | Gillingham | A | 1–2 | 9,096 | Barmby |
| 13 March 2004 | Crystal Palace | H | 3–2 | 28,306 | Williams (2), Reid |
| 17 March 2004 | Burnley | H | 1–1 | 26,885 | Taylor |
| 20 March 2004 | Derby County | A | 2–4 | 32,390 | Taylor, Williams |
| 27 March 2004 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 2–0 | 24,347 | King (2) |
| 3 April 2004 | Sheffield United | A | 2–1 | 22,339 | King, Taylor |
| 10 April 2004 | Stoke City | H | 0–0 | 28,758 | |
| 12 April 2004 | Preston North End | A | 2–2 | 15,117 | King, Williams |
| 17 April 2004 | Millwall | H | 2–2 | 22,263 | Reid, Johnson |
| 24 April 2004 | Ipswich Town | A | 2–1 | 27,848 | Johnson (2) |
| 1 May 2004 | Wigan Athletic | H | 1–0 | 29,172 | Johnson |
| 9 May 2004 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 2–0 | 26,821 | Williams, Johnson |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R3 | 3 January 2004 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 1–0 | 11,843 | King |
| R4 | 25 January 2004 | Sheffield United | H | 0–3 | 17,306 | |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 | 12 August 2003 | Port Vale | A | 0–0 (won 3–2 on pens) | 4,950 | |
| R2 | 23 September 2003 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 0–0 (won 4–1 on pens) | 4,477 | |
| R3 | 29 October 2003 | Portsmouth | H | 2–4 | 20,078 | Bopp (2) |

## First-team 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 |
| 1 | GK | WAL | Darren Ward |
| 2 | DF | FRA | Matthieu Louis-Jean |
| 4 | DF | ENG | Des Walker |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Michael Dawson |
| 6 | DF | IRL | John Thompson |
| 7 | MF | IRL | Andy Reid |
| 8 | MF | SCO | Gareth Williams |
| 9 | FW | JAM | David Johnson |
| 10 | FW | WAL | Gareth Taylor |
| 11 | FW | JAM | Marlon King |
| 12 | GK | IRL | Barry Roche |
| 14 | MF | SCO | Eoin Jess |
| 15 | MF | GER | Eugen Bopp |
| 16 | DF | SCO | Chris Doig |
| 17 | MF | SCO | Michael Stewart (on loan from Manchester United) |
| 18 | MF | WAL | Paul Evans |
| 19 | MF | IRL | Brian Cash |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 20 | FW | ENG | Craig Westcarr |
| 21 | MF | NIR | Danny Sonner |
| 22 | GK | ENG | Paul Gerrard (on loan from Everton) |
| 23 | DF | ENG | Wes Morgan |
| 24 | DF | SCO | Gregor Robertson |
| 25 | MF | ENG | Matt Bodkin |
| 26 | DF | ENG | James Biggins |
| 27 | FW | ENG | Richard Jeffrey |
| 28 | MF | ENG | Andy Haskins |
| 29 | DF | ENG | James Perch |
| 30 | GK | GER | Pascal Formann |
| 31 | DF | AUS | David Tarka |
| 32 | MF | ENG | Ross Gardner |
| 33 | MF | ENG | James Beaumont |
| 34 | DF | ENG | Alan Rogers (on loan from Leicester City) |
| 35 | MF | ENG | Andy Impey (on loan from Leicester City) |

### 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 |
| 3 | DF | BEL | Davy Oyen (to K.V.S.K. United Overpelt-Lommel) |
| 11 | FW | ENG | Marlon Harewood (to West Ham United) |
| 18 | DF | ISL | Brynjar Gunnarsson (to Stoke City) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 22 | MF | IRL | Stephen McPhail (on loan from Leeds United) |
| 22 | FW | ENG | Michael Chopra (on loan from Newcastle United) |
| 36 | MF | ENG | Nick Barmby (on loan from Leeds United) |

## Appearances

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Division 1 | Division 1 | FA Cup | FA Cup | Worthington Cup | Worthington Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | WAL | Darren Ward | 37 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | FRA | Matthieu Louis-Jean | 42 | 1 | 37+1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | BEL | Davy Oyen | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | ENG | Des Walker | 28 | 0 | 23+2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Michael Dawson | 31 | 1 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | IRL | John Thompson | 36 | 1 | 26+6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | IRL | Andy Reid | 51 | 13 | 46 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | SCO | Gareth Williams | 43 | 6 | 38+1 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | ENG | David Johnson | 18 | 7 | 10+7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | ENG | Gareth Taylor | 38 | 8 | 28+6 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | ENG | Marlon Harewood | 22 | 12 | 19 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | JAM | Marlon King | 26 | 6 | 23+1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | GK | IRL | Barry Roche | 8 | 0 | 6+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | SCO | Eoin Jess | 37 | 2 | 21+14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +2 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | GER | Eugen Bopp | 18 | 3 | 9+6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1+1 | 2 |
| 16 | DF | SCO | Chris Doig | 11 | 0 | 7+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | SCO | Michael Stewart | 15 | 0 | 11+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 18 | DF | ISL | Brynjar Gunnarsson | 14 | 0 | 9+4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | ENG | Paul Evans | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | IRL | Brian Cash | 1 | 0 | +1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | FW | ENG | Craig Westcarr | 4 | 0 | +3 | 0 | +1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | ENG | Danny Sonner | 32 | 0 | 19+9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | IRL | Stephen McPhail | 16 | 0 | 13+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 22 | FW | ENG | Michael Chopra | 5 | 0 | 3+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | GK | ENG | Paul Gerrard | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | DF | ENG | Wes Morgan | 36 | 2 | 30+2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | SCO | Gregor Robertson | 21 | 0 | 12+4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 25 | MF | ENG | Matt Bodkin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | DF | ENG | James Biggins | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | FW | ENG | Richard Jeffrey | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | MF | ENG | Andy Haskins | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | DF | ENG | James Perch | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | GK | GER | Pascal Formann | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | DF | AUS | David Tarka | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | MF | ENG | Ross Gardner | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | MF | ENG | James Beaumont | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | DF | ENG | Alan Rogers | 12 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | MF | ENG | Andy Impey | 16 | 1 | 15+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | MF | ENG | Nicky Barmby | 6 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |