TOWN boss Mark Cooper was left dumbfounded by his side’s stunning play-off 7-6 aggregate win over Sheffield United.

Leading 2-1 going into last night’s second leg, a mad game of 10 goals ensued with no side ever really taking control, despite Town leading 5-1 on aggregate at one stage.

It is perhaps no surprise Cooper was struggling for words. His side roared out to a 3-0 lead thanks to a Ben Gladwin brace and a Michael Smith strike.

The Blades came back into it before the half with an own goal and a Chris Basham header. A Smith penalty looked again to have swung the pendulum in favour of Town, before Steven Davies gave United a lifeline.

Jonathan Obika struck late to seemingly nail the Blades' coffin shut, but two even later goals from Matt Done and Che Adams left the Town boss scratching his head and feeling shy with the tongue.

“I can’t put into words what I’ve just seen to be honest,” he told the local media.

“At the minute I’m just putting it down to being a freak game, because I don’t think there will ever be another game like that. It was like two heavyweight boxers trying to knock each other out.

“I’m very proud of my players. At the start of season we were written off as relegation fodder and for a group of young boys to come through to being one game away from the Championship, to even get to Wembley is a remarkable achievement for them.”

Cooper, ever the unsatisfied manager – perhaps in this case justifiably – looked ahead to the final knowing he must fix his leaky defence if he is to lead to Town to the Championship.

“We know we have our faults, we can’t have everything,” added Cooper. “We play a certain way and at times we have to concede. It’s important that we analyse that closely and look at what we’ve done wrong, as we'll always do, and we’ll try and rectify that.

“I’m sure Simon Grayson (Preston manager) was rubbing his hands together watching it, with the firepower at their disposal I’m sure they’ll fancy their chances.”