2005 Football League play-offs

Football League play-offs 2004–05 West Ham United(Championship)Sheffield Wednesday(League One)Southend United(League Two) Preston 2–0 Derby(Championship)Hartlepool 2–0 Tranmere(League One)Tranmere 2–0 Hartlepool(League One) Ipswich 0–2 West Ham(Championship) Hartlepool 2–4 Sheffield Wednesday(6 goals) 15 29 70,275 – Preston v West Ham(Championship final) 5,223 – Macclesfield v Lincoln(League Two semi-final) 23,500 2004 2006 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. Background 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 2004–05 Football League Championship Pos PositionTeam Pld Played W Won D Drawn L Lost GF Goals for GA Goals against GD Goal difference Pts Points3Ipswich Town46241398556+29854Derby County462210147160+11765Preston North End462112136758+9756West Ham United462110156656+1073 Semi-finals First leg 14 May 2005 12:15 West Ham United 2–2 Report Ipswich Town Harewood 7Zamora 13 Walker 45 o.g. Kuqi 74 Upton Park, London 33,723 Uriah Rennie 15 May 2005 12:00 Preston North End 2–0 Report Derby County Nugent 38Cresswell 90 Deepdale, Preston 20,315 Andre Marriner Second leg 18 May 2005 19:45 Ipswich Town 0–2 Report West Ham United Zamora 61 72 Portman Road, Ipswich 30,010 Steve Dunn West Ham United won 4–2 on aggregate. 19 May 2005 19:45 Derby County 0–0 Report Preston North End Pride Park, Derby 31,310 Richard Beeby Preston North End won 2–0 on aggregate. Final 2005 Football League Championship play-off final 30 May 2005 15:00 Preston North End West Ham United 0–1 Report Zamora 57 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 70,275 Mike Riley League One 2004–05 Football League One Pos PositionTeam Pld Played W Won D Drawn L Lost GF Goals for GA Goals against GD Goal difference Pts Points3Tranmere Rovers462213117355+18794Brentford46229155760-3755Sheffield Wednesday461915127759+18726Hartlepool United46218177666+1071 Semi-finals First leg 12 May 2005 19:45 Sheffield Wednesday 1–0 Report Brentford McGovern 12 Hillsborough, Sheffield 28,625 Mike Jones 13 May 2005 19:45 Hartlepool United 2–0 Report Tranmere Rovers Boyd 32 68 Victoria Park, Hartlepool 6,604 Brian Curson Second leg 16 May 2005 19:45 Brentford 1–2 Report Sheffield Wednesday Frampton 87 Peacock 27Brunt 53 Griffin Park, Brentford 10,823 Tony Leake Sheffield Wednesday won 3–1 on aggregate. 17 May 2005 19:45 Tranmere Rovers 2–0 yes Report Hartlepool United Taylor 70Beresford 87 Prenton Park, Birkenhead 13,356 Martin Atkinson Taylor Hall Roberts Hume Dagnall Beresford Sharps 5–6 Strachan Tinkler Porter Robson Westwood Sweeney Humphreys Tranmere Rovers 2–2 Hartlepool United on aggregate. Hartlepool United won 6–5 on penalties. Final 2005 Football League One play-off final 29 May 2005 15:00 Hartlepool United 2–4 yes Report Sheffield Wednesday Williams 47Daly 71 McGovern 45MacLean 82 pen.Whelan 94Talbot 120 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 59,808 Phil Crossley League Two 2004–05 Football League Two Pos PositionTeam Pld Played W Won D Drawn L Lost GF Goals for GA Goals against GD Goal difference Pts Points4Southend United462212126546+19785Macclesfield Town46229156049+11756Lincoln City462012146447+17727Northampton Town462012146251+1172 Semi-finals First leg 14 May 2005 17:15 Lincoln City 1–0 Report Macclesfield Town McAuley 11 Sincil Bank, Lincoln 7,032 Graham Laws 15 May 2005 17:15 Northampton Town 0–0 Report Southend United Sixfields Stadium, Northampton 6,601 Lee Mason Second leg 21 May 2005 12:05 Macclesfield Town 1–1 Report Lincoln City Harsley 76 McAuley 15 Moss Rose, Macclesfield 5,223 Phil Crossley Lincoln City won 2–1 on aggregate. 21 May 2005 18:15 Southend United 1–0 Report Northampton Town Eastwood 49 pen. Roots Hall, Southend 9,152 Barry Knight Southend United won 1–0 on aggregate. Final 2005 Football League Two play-off final 28 May 2005 15:00 Lincoln City 0–2 yes Report Southend United Eastwood 105Jupp 110 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 19,653 Martin Atkinson External links Football League website Play Category:English Football League play-offs Category:May 2005 sports events in the United Kingdom