Inverness, Dundee and Rangers joined us in the semi final draw and, sadly, we ended up with the Forces of Darkness. Still, hopes were high.
Two woeful performances against Dunfermline and Dundee produced no further points although Tony Vaughan did add to our red card collection. The next game was the semi final and a day out at Hampden. Astonishingly we were a goal down after ninety seconds but this seemed to settle us. We came back into the match and two wonderful goals from Craig and McFadden had us in dreamland. The turning point came when Clarkson volleyed a glorious chance wide and we were made to pay. Three second half goals from Rangers put the tie beyond us although Adams pulled one back in the dying moments. We were out but our team had performed well and left us proud once again.
Our abysmal league form meant we were bottom of the league going into the split but the opportunity to move up the league was there. We had five games against our fellow strugglers (and our game in hand against Celtic) to move off the bottom of the league. Could we finally handle the pressure of playing a poor side? Er, no. A ‘bare-bones’ side was thrashed 3-0 at Firhill and our only consolation was Dundee United throwing away a half time lead at home to Hibs. With United visiting Fir Park the next week, it was becoming crunch time. We knew a win would lift us off the bottom of the table and we started well with Pearo bundling home and untidy opener. The second half was a different story though and Charlie Miller equalised with a sensational solo goal. The game was becoming stretched and United looked to have scored a late winner when McIntyre beat Woods high into the roof of the net. Tony Vaughan scrambled a goal from a corner to keep our hopes of survival alive for at least another week.
The Celtic game was important for both sides with the visitors knowing a four goal win would put them top of the league. We played very well for half an hour until Derek Adams lost the plot and elbowed Alan Thompson. From then on it was formality and Celtic duly racked up the goals they needed. Thankfully they eased off the gas somewhat and our goal difference advantage over Dundee United was preserved.
We looked to be heading for a point at Easter Road until David Partridge made a hash of a clearance and conceded a penalty. Hibs scored and despite a late fight back we couldn’t force an equaliser – Stevie Craig squandered our best chance in injury time. United’s winner at Livingston, weeks into injury time, left us staring relegation in the face.
Going into the second last week of the season, we knew a United win at Firhill would confirm us to bottom spot. Things started well at Fir Park though as Clarkson gave us an early lead. However, a disastrous thirty minute spell left us 3-1 down at half time. Jim McIntyre scored at Firhill to confirm our fate and despite McFadden’s late penalty we were down and out.
Or were we? Falkirk had won the First Division and their consistent inability to build a stadium meant that their promotion was not certain. They claimed to have an agreement to play their matches at New Broomfield but this deal seemed far from watertight. The SPL was not convinced of their claims and on May 23rd, we were given a reprieve. The end of the season was the next day against Livingston and Fir Park was in buoyant mood. Despite playing well, we were 2-1 down after 60 minutes. Stevie Craig rifled in an equaliser and then James McFadden took over. He tapped in his first from a rebound, dinked a penalty in off the bar and completed his hat-trick with a sensational solo goal. We were rampant at this moment and Keith Lasley scored his second in injury time. Livingston had been destroyed as we hit six at Fir Park for the second time in a season. The end of season pitch invasion to thank the players for their efforts was conducted in good spirits although McFadden seemed to be waving good bye to the fans from his position in the directors box. 
So, that was season 2002-2003. Wins over both the Old Firm and six goals drubbings of Hearts and Livingston were not enough to keep us off the bottom of the league. Week in week out we were poor and mistake ridden. The cup did give us some respite but in years to come we will look back at the semi final against Rangers and regret not being able to take advantage of a poor Old Firm side on a bad day. We have some good players and a lot of talent but our disciplinary record was disgraceful and at times we lacked basic organisation in defence. There are a lot of improvements that need to be made but at least there is the potential for a better side. Can 2003-2004 match the excitement of this year?