After defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in the 2005 League One play-off semi-finals, Brentford manager Martin Allen strengthened the squad with a number of acquisitions on free transfers.

[1] He raided his former club Reading (Ricky Newman, Paul Brooker and former Bees favourite Lloyd Owusu) and acquired youngsters Ólafur Ingi Skúlason, Sam Tillen and non-League forward DJ Campbell.

[7][11] Beginning with a win over Milton Keynes Dons on 28 March, Brentford went unbeaten for the rest of the season, but six draws from the final seven matches dropped the club out of the automatic promotion places.

[6] Despite taking the lead at the Liberty Stadium and largely controlling the first leg, Swans defender Sam Ricketts salvaged a 1–1 draw with a deflected shot in the dying minutes.

[13] Two quick-fire goals from Swansea City forward Leon Knight in the first 15 minutes of the second leg at Griffin Park killed the tie and Brentford exited the play-offs 3–1 on aggregate.