The Cardiff City squad that scrapped its way into the Championship Play-Offs in the spring of 2012 relied on endurance and tenacity rather than squad depth or individual skill.
That’s not to say there wasn’t supreme talent in the squad: Peter Whittingham, Stephen McPhail and a very young Joe Ralls exemplified that.
But the fulcrum of City’s ‘11/12 stable that fell valiantly to Liverpool in the 2012 League Cup Final and secured a top six League finish had a battle-hardened spine with winning mentality: David Marshall, Kevin McNaughton, Mark Hudson, Ben Turner, Don Cowie, Aron Gunnarsson and Kenny Miller, your cases here.
One player that somewhat straddled both realms in this respect was Liam Lawrence.
Lawrence, having represented this weekend’s opponents, Stoke City, between 2006 and 2010, joined the Bluebirds on loan from cash-strapped Portsmouth in March 2012 until the end of the campaign.
Able to play off the right of a midfield four or in a more central position, the 15-time capped Republic of Ireland international was able to create something special out of nothing and also offer a physical presence when it was required.
Liam made 13 appearances in total for City, scoring once (against Barnsley in 1-0 win) and contributing four assists (including one on his debut in a 2-2 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion). Come the start of the new season, there was talk of the midfielder signing permanently with the Bluebirds, though this never materialised and he signed with PAOK in Greece.
Lawrence returned to British football in 2015 and saw out his playing career with Barnsley, Shrewsbury Town and finally, Bristol Rovers.
Having been born in the Nottinghamshire town of Retford, he began his professional career with nearby Mansfield Town in 1999, moving on to Sunderland in 2004, and then after a brief loan spell with Stoke he signed permanently for the Potters in January 2007.
It was during his time at Stoke that Lawrence’s career truly peaked and he became a key part of Tony Pulis’ side that secured promotion to the Premier League in 2008. He scored 15 goals during that triumphant 2007/08 season and won the club’s Player of the Season award.
Sadly, after scoring Stoke’s first Premier League goal of the subsequent season, a freak injury kept him out for much of that campaign. His appearances in the Potteries were much more fleeting thereafter before his switch to Pompey in 2011.
Now back at the Bet 365 Stadium, Lawrence works alongside fellow former Potter, Ryan Shawcross, in the club’s U21 setup.