Despite their successful partnership, Milan Mandarić and Harry Redknapp clashed several times during their time together. At the end of the 2003–04 season, Mandarić was considering replacing some of the club's coaching staff, including Redknapp's assistant, Jim Smith. No changes took place, however, and after an uneasy start to the 2004–05 season, failing to win any of their first three matches, two consecutive home wins (4–3 over Fulham and 3–1 over Crystal Palace) started a steady run of form (including a famous 2–0 win over Manchester United at Fratton Park in October) that saw them remain comfortably in mid-table between August and December.