The year started with Preston aiming to climb the table and improve what was an appalling away record. An away victory at Crewe at the beginning on 2005 meant a great start to 2005 which was spoilt only by an early exit in the FA Cup to WBA.
Away victories at QPR and Plymouth combined with Prestton's excellent home form meant that by February Billy Davies had taken his side into the play off places. This is where they stayed losing only to Forest, Millwall and with a weakened side at Derby on the last game of the season. Preston remained unbeaten until the end of the season at Depdale and went into the play offs with confidence.
A sell out saw The Whites take a 2-0 lead in the first leg of the play off semi final against Derby. This was followed up by a 0-0 draw at Pride Park with 5,000 visiting supporters making sure North End went to Cardiff. However, Cardiff became a step too far in the play off final when the side underperformed leading to a 1-0 victory for West Ham after a slip up in defence by Mawene and Davis.
Preston started the new season in fine style with victory at Watford and also a thumping win at Ipswich. However, early defeats at home to Reading and Stoke combined with defeats at Sheffield United and Luton meant the Whites were searching for some form. billy Davis managed to turn the clubs fortunes with a series of draws and solid performances which led to a 15 game unbeaten run until the end of the year. By the end of the year the club were looking to pounce and enter the play off zone once again.
The year saw some new faces at Deepdale including David Nugent who scored viatl goals in Preston's promotion push. He also represented England at under 20 1n 21 levels. Matthew Hill also made his debut at left back as well as keeper cum model Carlo Nash. In the summer Billy Davies splashed out on youngsters Hibbert and Anyinsah as well as big Danny Dichio. Lewis Neal signed from Stoke in exchange for Marlon Broomes and the year also saw the departures on Richard Cresswell and Eddie lewis both to Leeds. The end of 2005 also saw loan spells for Dave Jones and Jemal Johnson.