2002–03 Hibernian F.C. season

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hibernian
2002–03 season
ManagerBobby Williamson
SPL7th
Scottish CupR4
CIS CupR3
Top goalscorerLeague: McManus, 11
All: McManus, 11
Highest home attendance13686[1]
Lowest home attendance7518[1]
Average home league attendance9937[1] (down 1666)

Season 2002–03 was a disappointment for Hibernian, as the team finished in the bottom half of the Scottish Premier League in Bobby Williamson's first full season in charge. The team were also knocked out of the two domestic cup competitions at an early stage. In a preview for the next season, BBC Sport commented that the biggest problem "was a fragile defence that developed a nasty habit of conceding late goals".[2]

League season[]

Hibs got off to a very poor start to the league season, collecting only three points from a possible 18.[3] This included heavy defeats by Hearts and Dunfermline.[3] Former Hibs player Ulrik Laursen commented in the match programme for his new club, Celtic, that he believed former Hibs manager Alex McLeish (now at Rangers) was to blame for this decline in fortunes, due to his decision to release popular players such as Mixu Paatelainen and Stuart Lovell.[4] Hibs lost the game 1–0 at Celtic Park and remained bottom of the early league table,[4] but fortunes immediately improved, as Hibs won their next five league games in succession.

This revival meant that they were in a good league position going into the third Edinburgh derby of the season, on 2 January, where victory would mean that Hibs would leapfrog Hearts into third place.[5] Hibs twice took a two-goal lead, but conceded two goals (both scored by Graham Weir) late in stoppage time to gift Hearts a 4–4 draw.[5] Hibs then lost their next five league games and drifted down the league, eventually finishing in 7th place.

Results[]

3 August 2002 SPL Hibernian 1–2 Aberdeen Easter Road, Edinburgh
Luna Goal 31' Mackie Goal 64'
Clark Goal 90'		 Attendance: 13,340
Referee: Toner
11 August 2002 SPL Heart of Midlothian 5–1 Hibernian Tynecastle, Edinburgh
Kirk Goal 18'
de Vries Goal 40', 66', 90', 90'		 Murray Goal 51' Attendance: 15,245
Referee: McCurry
18 August 2002 SPL Hibernian 2–4 Rangers Easter Road, Edinburgh
Townsley Goal 35'
O'Connor Goal 89'		 de Boer Goal 6'
Ferguson Goal 45' (pen.)
Løvenkrands Goal 65', 87'		 Attendance: 11,633
Referee: Dallas
24 August 2002 SPL Dundee 2–1 Hibernian Dens Park, Dundee
Caballero Goal 79'
Lovell Goal 90'		 O'Connor Goal 10' Attendance: 6,411
Referee:
31 August 2002 SPL Motherwell 0–2 Hibernian Fir Park, Motherwell
Townsley Goal 15', 72' Attendance: 5,888
Referee: Clark
11 September 2002 SPL Hibernian 1–4 Dunfermline Athletic Easter Road, Edinburgh
Paatelainen Goal 42' Walker Goal 11'
Brewster Goal 24', 57'
Crawford Goal 32'		 Attendance: 9,837
Referee: Dougal
14 September 2002 SPL Celtic 1–0 Hibernian Celtic Park, Glasgow
Hartson Goal 31' Attendance: 56,703
Referee: McDonald
21 September 2002 SPL Hibernian 2–0 Kilmarnock Easter Road, Edinburgh
Murray Goal 8'
McManus Goal 11'		 Attendance: 8,680
Referee:
28 September 2002 SPL Hibernian 1–0 Livingston Easter Road, Edinburgh
Murray Goal 45' Attendance: 9,541
Referee: Freeland
5 October 2002 SPL Hibernian 2–1 Dundee United Easter Road, Edinburgh
O'Connor Goal 29'
Murray Goal 51'		 Thompson Goal 76' Attendance: 9,175
Referee: Underhill
19 October 2002 SPL Partick Thistle 0–3 Hibernian Firhill Stadium, Glasgow
O'Connor Goal 44', 88'
Paatelainen Goal 81'		 Attendance: 5,946
Referee:
27 October 2002 SPL Aberdeen 0–1 Hibernian Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen
Brebner Goal 70' Attendance: 12,321
Referee: Clark
3 November 2002 SPL Hibernian 1–2 Heart of Midlothian Easter Road, Edinburgh
Paatelainen Goal 36' McKenna Goal 86'
Stamp Goal 90'		 Attendance: 15,560
Referee:
10 November 2002 SPL Rangers 2–1 Hibernian Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow
Mols Goal 11'
Arveladze Goal 35'		 McManus Goal 45' Attendance: 48,798
Referee: McCurry
16 November 2002 SPL Hibernian 2–1 Dundee Easter Road, Edinburgh
Paatelainen Goal 12', 49' (pen.) Novo Goal 90' Attendance: 8,870
Referee: Dallas
23 November 2002 SPL Hibernian 3–1 Motherwell Easter Road, Edinburgh
Paatelainen Goal 59'
McManus Goal 64'
O'Neil Goal 90' (pen.)		 Ferguson Goal 47' Attendance: 8,859
Referee: McDonald
30 November 2002 SPL Dunfermline Athletic 1–1 Hibernian East End Park, Dunfermline
Crawford Goal 66' McManus Goal 57' Attendance: 7,515
Referee: Fyfe
4 December 2002 SPL Hibernian 0–1 Celtic Easter Road, Edinburgh
Petrov Goal 76' Attendance: 12,042
Referee: McCurry
7 December 2002 SPL Dundee United 1–1 Hibernian Tannadice Park, Dundee
Wilson Goal 3' Murray Goal 7' Attendance: 5,673
Referee: McDonald
14 December 2002 SPL Livingston 1–2 Hibernian Almondvale, Livingston
Brinquin Goal 90' Murray Goal 55'
James Goal 66'		 Attendance: 6,501
Referee: Brines
21 December 2002 SPL Kilmarnock 2–1 Hibernian Rugby Park, Kilmarnock
McSwegan Goal 63'
Fulton Goal 88'		 Luna Goal 83' Attendance: 5,814
Referee: Dallas
26 December 2002 SPL Hibernian 1–1 Partick Thistle Easter Road, Edinburgh
O'Neil Goal 89' (pen.) Burns Goal 78' Attendance: 10,317
Referee: Thomson
29 December 2002 SPL Hibernian 2–0 Aberdeen Easter Road, Edinburgh
Paatelainen Goal 70'
McManus Goal 85'		 Attendance: 11,604
Referee:
2 January 2003 SPL Heart of Midlothian 4–4 Hibernian Tynecastle, Edinburgh
Pressley Goal 30' (pen.)
de Vries Goal 62'
Weir Goal 90', 90'		 Townsley Goal 11'
McManus Goal 17'
James Goal 89'
Brebner Goal 90'		 Attendance: 17,732
Referee: Dougal
29 January 2003 SPL Hibernian 0–2 Rangers Easter Road, Edinburgh
Ferguson Goal 58'
Caniggia Goal 85'		 Attendance: 13,686
Referee: Clark
8 February 2003 SPL Motherwell 2–1 Hibernian Fir Park, Motherwell
Clarkson Goal 31'
Fagan Goal 41'		 O'Connor Goal 71' Attendance: 4,999
Referee: Richmond
15 February 2003 SPL Hibernian 1–3 Dunfermline Athletic Easter Road, Edinburgh
O'Connor Goal 67' Mason Goal 20'
Crawford Goal 39', 55'		 Attendance: 9,175
Referee: McCurry
25 February 2003 SPL Dundee 3–0 Hibernian Dens Park, Dundee
Rae Goal 9'
Milne Goal 86'
Murray Goal 90' (o.g.)		 Attendance: 8,414
Referee: Freeland
2 March 2003 SPL Celtic 3–2 Hibernian Celtic Park, Glasgow
Hartson Goal 1', 23'
Mjallby Goal 90'		 McManus Goal 37', 60' Attendance: 57,512
Referee:
9 March 2003 SPL Hibernian 1–1 Dundee United Easter Road, Edinburgh
McManus Goal 3' McIntyre Goal 69' Attendance: 7,518
Referee: Somers
15 March 2003 SPL Partick Thistle 0–1 Hibernian Firhill Stadium, Glasgow
McManus Goal 15' Attendance: 4,551
Referee:
5 April 2003 SPL Kilmarnock 6–2 Hibernian Rugby Park, Kilmarnock
McDonald Goal 11'
McSwegan Goal 24', 42', 47', 62'
Boyd Goal 90' (pen.)		 Murray Goal 18'
Jack Goal 83'		 Attendance: 5,814
Referee: Dallas
12 April 2003 SPL Hibernian 2–2 Livingston Easter Road, Edinburgh
Orman Goal 44'
Riordan Goal 53'		 Wilson Goal 87'
O'Brien Goal 89'		 Attendance: 8,150
Referee:
26 April 2003 SPL Dundee United 1–2 Hibernian Tannadice Park, Dundee
McCracken Goal 32' McManus Goal 58' (pen.)
Murray Goal 90'		 Attendance: 6,758
Referee: McCurry
3 May 2003 SPL Hibernian 3–1 Aberdeen Easter Road, Edinburgh
Jack Goal 42'
Riordan Goal 61', 72'		 Tiernan Goal 88' Attendance: 7,904
Referee: Richmond
10 May 2003 SPL Hibernian 1–0 Motherwell Easter Road, Edinburgh
Brebner Goal 66' (pen.) Attendance: 7,809
Referee:
17 May 2003 SPL Livingston 1–2 Hibernian Almondvale, Livingston
Pasquinelli Goal 87' Brown Goal 38', 69' Attendance: 5,423
Referee: Fyfe
24 May 2003 SPL Hibernian 2–3 Partick Thistle Easter Road, Edinburgh
Jack Goal 8'
Brown Goal 34'		 Britton Goal 29'
Rowson Goal 52'
Burns Goal 86'		 Attendance: 9,286
Referee: Underhill

Final table[]

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation[a]
5 Dunfermline Athletic 38 13 7 18 54 71 −17 46
6 Dundee 38 10 14 14 50 60 −10 44 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round[b]
7 Hibernian 38 15 6 17 56 64 −8 51
8 Aberdeen 38 13 10 15 41 54 −13 49
9 Livingston 38 9 8 21 48 62 −14 35
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. ^ As Rangers, the 2002–03 Scottish Cup winners, qualified for the UEFA Champions League via their league position, the place in the UEFA Cup was passed onto Dundee, the cup runners-up

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 Alloa Athletic 2–0. Hibs were then drawn against Rangers, managed by former Hibs boss Alex McLeish, at home in the last 16.[6] The match proved to be a "miserable night" for Hibs, as the tie was lost 3–2 despite taking an early lead.[6] The lead was quickly turned into a deficit by an own goal and a defensive error by Derek Townsley.[6] Despite Garry O'Connor's goal levelling the score midway through the second half, Rangers scored what proved to be the winning goal soon afterwards.[6] Gary Smith was sent off late on, reducing Hibs to ten men.[6] To top things off, midfielder Alen Orman suffered what appeared to be an epileptic fit during the first half and had to be substituted.[6]

Results[]

24 September 2002 Scottish League Cup Alloa Athletic 0–2 Hibernian Recreation Park, Alloa
Brebner Goal 59'
O'Connor Goal 72'		 Attendance: 1,842
Referee: McCurry
24 October 2002 Scottish League Cup Hibernian 2–3 Rangers Easter Road, Edinburgh
Murray Goal 6'
O'Connor Goal 72'		 Townsley Goal 22' (o.g.)
Caniggia Goal 25'
Løvenkrands Goal 78'		 Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Dallas

Scottish Cup[]

Results[]

25 January 2003 Scottish Cup Dundee United 2–3 Hibernian Tannadice Park, Dundee
O'Donnell Goal 70'
Hamilton Goal 79' (pen.)		 Brebner Goal 10', 28', 87' Attendance: 8,986
Referee:
22 February 2003 Scottish Cup Dunfermline Athletic 1–1 Hibernian East End Park, Dunfermline
Nicholson Goal 58' Murray Goal 42' Attendance: 6,619
Referee: Dougal
6 March 2003 Scottish Cup Hibernian 0–2 Dunfermline Athletic Easter Road, Edinburgh
Crawford Goal 57'
Wilson Goal 79'		 Attendance: 5,851
Referee: Dallas

Transfers[]

During this period, Hibs were experiencing severe financial problems, due to a "collapse in television revenues".[7] Hibs chairman stated that the club's debt burden at the financial year end would be approximately £17M, and that the club could only continue to operate due to the support offered by majority shareholder Tom Farmer.[7] At the end of the season, the club explored the possibility of selling Easter Road and sharing a new ground with Edinburgh derby rivals Hearts.[8] During the summer of 2002, Hibs somewhat addressed these financial deficits by selling Ulises de la Cruz and Ulrik Laursen. De la Cruz was sold just one season after Hibs had bought him for a club record fee.[9]

Player stats[]

During the 2002–03 season, Hibs used 30 different players in competitive games. The table below shows the number of appearances and goals scored by each player.[10]

No. Pos Nat Player Total SPL Scottish Cup League Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Sweden SWE Daniel Andersson 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0
GK England ENG Tony Caig 6 0 6 0 0 0 0 0
GK Ireland EIR Nick Colgan 35 0 30 0 3 0 2 0
DF Scotland SCO Allan Dempsie 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
DF Scotland SCO Mark Dempsie 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0
DF France FRA Mathias Kouo-Doumbé 15 0 13 0 2 0 0 0
DF Canada CAN Paul Fenwick 36 0 31 0 3 0 2 0
DF England ENG Craig James 25 2 22 2 2 0 1 0
DF Hungary HUN Janos Matyus 15 0 14 0 0 0 1 0
DF Scotland SCO Gary Smith 37 0 32 0 3 0 2 0
DF Scotland SCO Steven Whittaker 6 0 6 0 0 0 0 0
DF France FRA Yannick Zambernardi 31 0 28 0 1 0 2 0
MF France FRA Frederic Arpinon 9 0 8 0 1 0 0 0
MF Scotland SCO Grant Brebner 37 7 32 3 3 3 2 1
MF Germany GER Mathias Jack 21 3 19 3 2 0 0 0
MF Scotland SCO Ian Murray 40 10 36 8 3 1 1 1
MF Scotland SCO Kevin Nicol 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
MF Scotland SCO John O'Neil 24 2 21 2 3 0 0 0
MF Austria AUT Alen Orman 28 1 25 1 1 0 2 0
MF Scotland SCO Alan Reid 7 0 7 0 0 0 0 0
MF Scotland SCO Darran Thomson 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
MF England ENG Derek Townsley 30 4 25 4 3 0 2 0
MF Finland FIN Jarkko Wiss 27 0 24 0 1 0 2 0
FW Scotland SCO Scott Brown 4 3 4 3 0 0 0 0
FW France FRA Frederic Daquin 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
FW Spain ESP Paco Luna 20 2 18 2 0 0 2 0
FW Scotland SCO Tam McManus 39 11 35 11 3 0 1 0
FW Scotland SCO Garry O'Connor 28 9 23 7 3 0 2 2
FW Finland FIN Mixu Paatelainen 29 7 24 7 3 0 2 0
FW Scotland SCO Derek Riordan 11 3 10 3 0 0 1 0

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "Average Home League Game Attendances". fitbastats.com. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  2. ^ "Room for improvement at Hibs". BBC Sport. BBC. 4 August 2003.
  3. ^ a b Brewster destroys Hibs, The Daily Telegraph, 12 September 2002.
  4. ^ a b Laursen blames McLeish over Hibs, The Daily Telegraph, 16 September 2002.
  5. ^ a b High drama in Edinburgh derby, BBC Sport, 2 January 2003.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Hibernian 2 Rangers 3, Sporting Life.
  7. ^ a b Kwik-Fit keeps Hibs afloat, BBC Sport, 25 June 2003.
  8. ^ Capital groundshare plan, BBC Sport, 16 June 2003.
  9. ^ De la Cruz for Villa, The Guardian, 26 July 2002.
  10. ^ "Hibernian 2002/2003 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 13 December 2009.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""