City Flashback - 2003 | Bluebirds beat Bristol to reach Play-Off Final
As the Bluebirds prepare to travel to Bristol City on Saturday, we take a look back at a famous victory over the Robins in 2003.
In a fantastic campaign under Lennie Lawrence, City secured a Play-Off spot on the final day of the season with a 1-1 draw at Crewe Alexandra.
Having accumulated 81 points, the Bluebirds finished sixth in the Division Two table, earning a Play-Off Semi-Final tie against third-place Bristol City.
A fantastic atmosphere greeted both sides as they entered the pitch for the opening leg at Ninian Park, with a crowd of 19,146 in attendance.
Lawrence’s men stepped up to the occasion admirably, with a memorable second-half header from Peter Thorne giving the Bluebirds a valuable lead.
![Peter Thorne](https://cdn.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/sites/default/files/2022-01/peter-thorne-bristol.jpg)
City goalkeeper Neil Alexander was fantastic between the sticks, making a number of saves to guarantee a clean sheet.
Bluebirds striker Robert Earnshaw went close to doubling the lead and giving City control of the tie ten minutes from time, but Robins goalkeeper Steve Phillips pulled off a fine save to keep the score at 1-0.
The 2002/03 campaign was a career highlight for Earnshaw, who broke the 56-year record of 30 league goals held by Stan Richards, as well as the record of Hughie Ferguson of 32 goals in all competitions.
In the second-leg at Ashton Gate three days later, City put in an unbelievable defensive performance to book a place in the Play-off Final.
Alexander was fantastic once again, as the visitors threw everything to find an equalising goal, only for a strong Bluebirds defence - which contained Rhys Weston, Danny Gabbidon, Chris Barker and Spencer Prior - to come out on top.
The final whistle brought the game to a close at 0-0, with City emerging victorious on aggregate and advancing to the Final, which was to be held in the Welsh capital.
![](https://cdn.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/sites/default/files/2020-05/2003pofinal_1.jpg)
Lawrence’s side went on to face Queens Park Rangers in the Final at the Millennium Stadium, with the R's having seen off Oldham Athletic in the other set of Semi-Final fixtures.
In front of 66,096 supporters, Andy Campbell’s iconic lob in extra-time was enough to secure a narrow 1-0 victory and clinch promotion to the second tier.
As we face Bristol City once more this weekend, the Play-Off tie in the 2002/03 campaign was a memorable part of a promotion-winning season.