The same two sides will meet again in the play-offs semi final for the right to meet either Ipswich or West Ham in the final which will decide who joins Wigan and Sunderland in the Premiership next season.
"I'm disappointed by the result but we went to Derby with a gameplan and that was to make sure everyone was prepared for the next two play-off games," Davies said after the 3-1 defeat at Pride Park which saw North End finish the season in fifth place.
"We rested one or two people and also gave games to people who needed it - like big Patrick Agyemang up front. So we chopped and changed a little bit.
"But the most important thing was that we came through in good shape for the next two games."