Saturday 23rd August 2003 - League Table
Bradford City 0 Gillingham 1 (10,317)
Thirty-year-old Gillingham defender Chris Hope leaped to head the Gills first league goal of the season after 257 minutes of trying. The late effort was enough to give Andy Hessenthaler's side their first win of the campaign.
Burnley 0 Wigan Athletic 2 (13,231)
Wigan won for the first time this season at Turf Moor but the story of woe gets worse for Stan Ternent, the Clarets are yet to register a single point this season. Peter Kennedy and Nathan Ellington, the club's biggest name player, scored the goals for the Latics.
Derby County 2 Reading 3 (18,970)
Shaun Goater put Reading one-up inside three minutes but the Rams were level shortly afterwards when Ian Taylor pinged home a spot kick. But a double strike from Scott Murray ensured the Royals went in 3-1 up at half time. Matthias Svensson pulled one back on his Derby debut late on but Reading held out for three more points.
Ipswich Town 1 Coventry City 1 (22,419)
Marcus Bent gave Ipswich an early lead at Portman Road before Coventry fought back and leveled the encounter courtsey of a Peter Doyle strike. Both teams battled hard for a winner but it was not to be and the game ended all square. The two former Premiership sides find themselves in a spot of trouble having registered just two points apiece so far this season.
Millwall 1 Crewe Alexandra 1 (9,504)
Noel Whelan's stoppage time bullet header ensured the Lions maintained their unbeaten record in Division One. Dean Ashton's goal looked good enough to give Crewe their second win of the season until Mark McGhee's side hit.
Nottingham Forest 1 Cardiff City 2 (23,407)
Forest, who were demolished 3-0 at Reading last weekend, recorded a shock defeat at home to Cardiff City. The Welsh outfit startled Paul Hart's side with two goals inside the first seven minutes from Robert Earnshaw and Graham Kavanagh. Whilst Marlon Harewood pulled one back mid-way through the second half it was not enough for the sorry Reds.
Preston North End 0 Sunderland 2 (14,018)
One loss short of a record eighteen consecutive defeats, Sunderland recorded their first win since January, and their first points in Division One, at Preston on Saturday evening. Goals from Sean Thornton and Marcus Stewart set up a surprisingly easy win for the Black Cats.
Rotherham United 1 West Ham United 0 (8,739)
Reading opponent's on Monday, Rotherham, defeated title favourites West Ham in a pulsating game at Millmoor. Darren Byfield's fourteenth minute thunderbolt proved to be the only goal of the game as West Ham lost for the first time this season.
Sheffield United 1 Norwich City 0 (24,285)
Last season's Play-Off Finalists Sheffield United recorded their first win of the season at home to Norwich City. United kept their third consecutive league clean sheet and brought to an end their mini goal drought. Rob Page volleyed that goal home mid-way through the opening period.
Walsall 1 Stoke City 1 (9,033)
Paul Merson's magical late goal gave Walsall a point at the Bescot Stadium. Carl Asaba opened the scoring for the Potters in the first half but his goal proved to be not enough. With the game seemingly Stoke's, Merson struck, ending the Potter's 100% winning start to Division One.
Watford 0 West Bromwich Albion 1 (15,023)
West Brom further recovered from their opening day mauling at Walsall with a win at troubled Watford. Having played three the Hornets have now lost three. However, that is not to say the home side played poorly as they probably deserved at least a point against Gary Megson's side. But Watford couldn't find a goal so a fifty-fifth minute strike from Lee Hughes won the game.
Wimbledon 1 Crystal Palace 3 (6,113)
Crystal Palace ousted Wimbledon in a battle of the home sides at Selhurst Park. Second half goals from Danny Butterfield Dougie Freedman and Michael Hughes gave Palace a crushing victory which keeps them top of the pile as they are the only side to still have a 100% record after three games.