In their FA Premier League-debuting 2003–04 season, Portsmouth had one of the best home records in the League, but poor away form restricted them to a 13th-place finish. Had they been able to match their impressive home form on their travels, then a top-half finish or even a European place could have been achieved. After producing a major shock at the start of the season when they defeated Aston Villa 2–1 in the very first Premier League match of the season, and then routed Bolton Wanderers 4–0 at Fratton Park in their third match, Pompey topped the league, becoming unlikely early season pace-setters. They were then comfortably in mid-table throughout the autumn, during which time they also scored a 1–0 victory over Liverpool and inflicted 6–1 victory at Fratton Park in November 2003 on Leeds, their heaviest ever loss in the Premier League.