The 2002–03 season was a historic one for Cardiff City, culminating in their long-awaited promotion back to the second tier of English football for the first time in 18 years. Managed by Lennie Lawrence, the Bluebirds spent the entire campaign in the upper echelon of Football League Division Two. Despite a late-season stumble that saw them drop to a 6th-place finish and miss out on automatic promotion, they dramatically triumphed in the play-offs. Playing the Play-Off Final at the Millennium Stadium in their home city, substitute Andy Campbell scored an iconic 114th-minute extra-time lob to secure a 1–0 victory over Queens Park Rangers. The remarkable year was additionally defined by striker Robert Earnshaw, who smashed a 56-year club record by netting an incredible 35 goals in all competitions.