2005 Football League play-offs

The Football League play-offs for the 2004–05 season were held in May 2005, with the finals taking place at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. The play-off semi-finals were played over two legs and were contested by the teams who finished in 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th place in the Football League Championship and League One and the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th placed teams in the League Two table. The winners of the semi-finals progressed to the finals, with the winner of the matches gaining promotion for the following season.

Football League play-offs
Season2004–05
ChampionsWest Ham United
(Championship)
Sheffield Wednesday
(League One)
Southend United
(League Two)
Matches played15
Goals scored29 (1.93 per match)
Biggest home winPreston 2–0 Derby
(Championship)
Hartlepool 2–0 Tranmere
(League One)
Tranmere 2–0 Hartlepool
(League One)
Biggest away winIpswich 0–2 West Ham
(Championship)
Highest scoringHartlepool 2–4 Sheffield Wednesday
(6 goals)
Highest attendance70,275 – Preston v West Ham
(Championship final)
Lowest attendance5,223 – Macclesfield v Lincoln
(League Two semi-final)
Average attendance23,500
2004
2006

Background

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The Football League play-offs have been held every year since 1987. They take place for each division following the conclusion of the regular season and are contested by the four clubs finishing below the automatic promotion places.

In the Championship, Ipswich Town, who were aiming to return to the top flight for the first time since 2002, finished 2 points behind second placed Wigan Athletic, who in turn finished 7 points behind champions Sunderland, who returned to the top flight at the second attempt after relegation from the Premier League in 2003. Derby County who were also relegated along with Ipswich from the top flight in 2002, finished in fourth place in the table. Preston North End who have not been in the top flight since 1961, finished in fifth place. West Ham United finished 2 points behind Preston North End and were looking for a place back in the Premiership after 2 seasons outside the top division.

Championship

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
3 Ipswich Town 46 24 13 9 85 56 +29 85
4 Derby County 46 22 10 14 71 60 +11 76
5 Preston North End 46 21 12 13 67 58 0+9 75
6 West Ham United 46 21 10 15 66 56 +10 73

Semi-finals

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First leg
West Ham United2–2Ipswich Town
Harewood   7'
Zamora   13'
Report Walker   45' (o.g.)
Kuqi   74'
Attendance: 33,723
Referee: Uriah Rennie

Preston North End2–0Derby County
Nugent   38'
Cresswell   90'
Report
Attendance: 20,315
Second leg
Ipswich Town0–2West Ham United
Report Zamora   61', 72'
Attendance: 30,010
Referee: Steve Dunn

West Ham United won 4–2 on aggregate.


Derby County0–0Preston North End
Report
Attendance: 31,310
Referee: Richard Beeby

Preston North End won 2–0 on aggregate.

Final

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Preston North End0–1West Ham United
Report Zamora   57'
Attendance: 70,275
Referee: Mike Riley

League One

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
3 Tranmere Rovers 46 22 13 11 73 55 +18 79
4 Brentford 46 22 9 15 57 60 -3 75
5 Sheffield Wednesday 46 19 15 12 77 59 +18 72
6 Hartlepool United 46 21 8 17 76 66 +10 71

Semi-finals

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First leg
Sheffield Wednesday1–0Brentford
McGovern   12' Report
Attendance: 28,625
Referee: Mike Jones

Hartlepool United2–0Tranmere Rovers
Boyd   32', 68' Report
Attendance: 6,604
Referee: Brian Curson
Second leg
Brentford1–2Sheffield Wednesday
Frampton   87' Report Peacock   27'
Brunt   53'
Attendance: 10,823
Referee: Tony Leake

Sheffield Wednesday won 3–1 on aggregate.


Tranmere Rovers 2–2 Hartlepool United on aggregate. Hartlepool United won 6–5 on penalties.

Final

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Hartlepool United2–4 (a.e.t.)Sheffield Wednesday
Williams   47'
Daly   71'
Report McGovern   45'
MacLean   82' (pen.)
Whelan   94'
Talbot   120'
Attendance: 59,808
Referee: Phil Crossley

League Two

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
4 Southend United 46 22 12 12 65 46 +19 78
5 Macclesfield Town 46 22 9 15 60 49 +11 75
6 Lincoln City 46 20 12 14 64 47 +17 72
7 Northampton Town 46 20 12 14 62 51 +11 72

Semi-finals

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First leg
Lincoln City1–0Macclesfield Town
McAuley   11' Report
Attendance: 7,032
Referee: Graham Laws

Northampton Town0–0Southend United
Report
Attendance: 6,601
Referee: Lee Mason
Second leg
Macclesfield Town1–1Lincoln City
Harsley   76' Report McAuley   15'
Attendance: 5,223
Referee: Phil Crossley

Lincoln City won 2–1 on aggregate.


Southend United1–0Northampton Town
Eastwood   49' (pen.) Report
Attendance: 9,152
Referee: Barry Knight

Southend United won 1–0 on aggregate.

Final

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Lincoln City0–2 (a.e.t.)Southend United
Report Eastwood   105'
Jupp   110'
Attendance: 19,653
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