Football: Lenny's boys on the up

CARDIFF manager Lenny Lawrence roared his own defiance last night as City prepared to tread the minefield of the promotion play-offs for the second successive season.

Their point against Wigan in a goalless draw guaranteed the Welsh club that end of season lottery.

And Lawrence (above) said: "If we can display the effort, skill and commitment we showed today then we would be desperately unlucky not to progress.

"We know the agony the play-offs can bring. The way we lost out to Stoke a year ago still burns deeply here - but that can be to our advantage.

"It can make us all the more determined to make sure we don't have to suffer such a heartbreak again."

Cardiff's Welsh international defender Danny Gabbidon faces a desperate race against time to be fit for the play-offs - which begin two weeks today - after hobbling off with a groin injury.

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