 Strachan did much to revitalise Southampton during the 2001–02 season, and they finished in a secure 11th place in the final league table.The club did even better in its 2002–03 season, finishing eighth in the Premiership and coming runners-up in the FA Cup to Arsenal (after losing 1–0 at the Millennium Stadium).Strachan resigned in March 2004 (to take a break from football) and was replaced by Paul Sturrock, who had been in the process of guiding Plymouth Argyle to their second promotion in three seasons.