TOWN boss Mark Cooper looked a broken figure as he came to greet the media after his side’s harrowing 4-0 play-off final defeat.

The manager had his head in his hands, but picked it up to give credit to Preston for out-fighting, out-thinking and out-playing his side.

The expression of hopelessness on his face was perhaps exacerbated by the prospect of having to pick up a dwindling group of young men who have endured what will be one of the most dispiriting blows to their careers.

Explaining the nature of the defeat, Cooper sought not to look for excuses. He admitted his side did not defend against Preston’s two obvious threats – hat-trick hero Jermaine Beckford and his foil Joe Garner.

Also to his credit, Cooper chose not lay the blame for defeat at the loss of captain Nathan Thompson three minutes in, when many might have done so. He admitted he had rolled the dice with the skipper’s fitness and it did not pay off.

“I think you’ve got to give credit to Preston,” said Cooper.

“I thought they were excellent and sometimes you’ve got to hold up your hands. You can look for every excuse in the world, but today we weren’t good enough and Preston were very, very good and you have to give them credit.

“We didn’t deal with Joe Garner and Jermaine Beckford plain and simple, everyone can see that. If you don’t do that then you’re going to have a difficult afternoon on your hands.

“If the ball comes in your box and you don’t want to head it and you don’t want to compete then you’re in trouble.

“In spells we had a lot of possession, but we didn’t really hurt Preston. When you’re goals behind it’s easy for them to sit back, soak up the pressure.

“Of course you don’t want to lose your captain. (Thompson) has been a brilliant leader for us this year and it knocks you out of your stride. We won’t use that as an excuse.

“He passed all (fitness) the tests with flying colours, not even a twinge or any kind of discomfort, because he’s been brilliant this year it was not a gamble.”

Pausing for thought before adding: “Well it was a gamble, but we didn’t see it as a gamble after he passed all the tests.”

Cooper returned to console his troops with a word for the battalion of fans who made it to Wembley despite the lack of public transport.

“The fans were outstanding,” he said. “They could have gone home at half-time. They kept with us, they’ve been brilliant all season.

“For them to turn up in the numbers that they did, when there was no real transport it speaks volumes for the town and the fans.”