The 2004-05 campaign saw Cardiff City, under manager Lennie Lawrence, consolidate their status in the newly rebranded Championship with a respectable 16th-place finish. Leading the line was the fan-favorite striker Peter Thorne, whose 12 league goals proved vital, including the league's first goal of 2005 with a New Year's Day header against Derby. The season was defined by a turbulent path and marked the end of an era, as it was Lawrence's final year and Thorne's last at the club before departing for Norwich, followed by the enforced sale of defensive stars Danny Gabbidon and James Collins due to financial struggles.