Nottingham Forest rebounded from the previous season's disappointment to finish 6th in the First Division, setting up a play-off with third-placed Sheffield United . Forest were beaten 5–4 on aggregate over two epic semi-final legs, consigning the club to another season in English football's second tier.
Updated to match(es) played on 11 May 2003. Source:
Soccerway Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(O) Play-off winners;
(P) Promoted
Squad at end of season [ 1] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules . Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Left club during season
edit
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules . Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Playoff stats are included under Division 1.
Date
Opponent
Venue
Result
Attendance
Scorers
10 August 2002
Portsmouth A
0–2
18,910
14 August 2002
Preston North End H
2-2
18,065
Johnson , Jess
17 August 2002
Sheffield Wednesday H
4–0
21,129
Harewood , Lester , Scimeca (2)
24 August 2002
Walsall A
1–2
5,096
Prutton
28 August 2002
Wimbledon H
2–0
16,431
Johnson (2)
31 August 2002
Coventry City A
1–0
13,732
Scimeca
14 September 2002
Watford H
0–1
17,865
18 September 2002
Gillingham H
4–1
16,073
Harewood (3) , Johnson
21 September 2002
Grimsby Town A
3–0
7,072
Johnson (3)
25 September 2002
Stoke City A
2–2
14,554
Dawson , Johnson
28 September 2002
Rotherham United H
3–2
25,089
Johnson (2) , Bopp
5 October 2002
Millwall A
2–1
10,521
Johnson (2)
20 October 2002
Derby County A
0–0
30,547
26 October 2002
Leicester City H
2–2
29,497
Johnson , Lester
29 October 2002
Norwich City A
0–0
20,986
2 November 2002
Sheffield United H
3–0
22,579
Lester (2) , Johnson
9 November 2002
Crystal Palace A
0–0
18,971
16 November 2002
Bradford City H
3–0
19,653
Lester , Johnson , Louis-Jean
23 November 2002
Wolves A
1–2
27,953
Harewood
27 November 2002
Brighton H
3–2
29,137
Harewood , Johnson , Lester
30 November 2002
Ipswich Town H
2–0
24,898
Johnson (2) ,
7 December 2002
Burnley A
0–1
13,869
14 December 2002
Bradford City A
0–1
12,245
21 December 2002
Reading H
2–0
25,831
Johnson , Harewood ,
26 December 2002
Sheffield Wednesday A
0–2
26,362
28 December 2002
Portsmouth H
1–2
28,165
Dawson
1 January 2003
Walsall H
1–1
28,441
Thompson
18 January 2003
Coventry City H
1–1
24,487
Williams
25 January 2003
Preston North End A
1–1
13,508
Johnson
1 February 2003
Wimbledon A
3–2
3,382
Harewood (2) , Johnson ,
8 February 2003
Crystal Palace H
2–1
26,012
Dawson , Harewood
22 February 2003
Stoke City H
6–0
24,085
Harewood (4) , Johnson , Jess
1 March 2003
Watford A
1–1
17,934
Huckerby
4 March 2003
Gillingham A
4–1
7,277
Huckerby (2) , Harewood , Thompson
10 March 2003
Grimsby Town H
2–2
25,507
Reid , Williams
15 March 2003
Brighton A
0–1
6,830
19 March 2003
Derby County H
3–0
29,725
Harewood (2) , Huckerby
22 March 2003
Norwich City H
4–0
27,296
Huckerby , Harewood , Williams , Brennan
5 April 2003
Ipswich Town A
4–3
29,503
Harewood (2) , Thompson , OG
8 April 2003
Leicester City A
0–1
32,065
11 April 2003
Wolves H
2–2
27,209
Johnson , Dawson
15 April 2003
Sheffield United A
0-1
23,317
18 April 2003
Reading A
0–1
21,612
21 April 2003
Burnley H
2–0
25,403
Dawson , Johnson
26 April 2003
Millwall H
3–3
29,763
Jess , Bopp , Johnson
4 May 2003
Rotherham United A
2–2
9,942
Lester , Westcarr
