"It's been hard work, right from the start, very patient stuff from the players all season long," the North End boss siad after the game at Pride Park.
"It's a very proud day for Preston and we've worked hard for it. We've beaten a good side, we're going to Cardiff and it'll be a great day for Preston.
"I thought it was a disciplined display and we defended very well.
"We didn't pass the ball as much as we should have but we deserved what we got in the end.
"I came in with the intention of getting 53 points to stay up, then you look for a top-half finish, so credit to the players and the staff for getting us this far.
"And credit too must go to Craig Brown, as he started things off here and we won't forget that."
On the final against West Ham, Davies commented: "We have showed we can match West Ham, so we will go there with the belief we can beat them.
"We will respect West Ham, but we will not fear them and I think my players have the ability and the belief to beat them.
"We have done it before and we can do it again, and I think all the pressure will be on them."