The 2002-03 campaign was a tumultuous and deeply disappointing one for Aston Villa, culminating in a precarious 16th-place finish in the Premier League, The Villans' worst campaign in eight years, which saw them in serious danger of relegation. The season was defined by a desperate survival battle under manager Graham Taylor, with safety only secured in the penultimate game against already-doomed Sunderland. The campaign's enduring, infamous moment was the catastrophic 3-0 defeat to local rivals Birmingham City, which included an accidental own goal by goalkeeper Peter Enckelman. Leading the line with grit and experience was veteran striker Dion Dublin, whose 10 crucial league goals were a vital contribution in a year built on struggle and high-profile derby drama.