FANS making up Swindon Town’s Red Army were left heartbroken as their heroes sunk to a 4-0 defeat in the League One play-off final.

Hundreds of Robins fans saw their hopes of a dream promotion come crashing down as their team went 2-0 down to Preston North End after just 13 minutes.

In pubs across the town, supporters in red shirts and scarves held their heads in their hands, with people leaving en-masse when Swindon plummeted to a three goal deficit at half-time.

Jason Savery, of Moredon, watched the match at the Merlin in Drove Road and said he was convinced from kick-off that Swindon would not emerge victorious.

“It was heartbreaking to watch,” he said.

“As soon as they started I knew it wasn’t going to happen for them. They never really got going from the start and there was no attacking game from them.

"I was going to watch it at Wembley but I pulled out. Now I’m glad I stayed home.”

Kenny Askham, from Park South, who headed to the Merlin to catch the game after work, was unimpressed with Town’s hotly-anticipated Wembley appearance.

“I had a nice steak and that’s probably the best thing about today,” he said. “It’s so disappointing.”

More than 48,000 fans at Wembley watched as Town failed to break down the rock-solid defences of Preston North End with victory sealed after a man-of-the-match performance from hattrick hero, Jermaine Beckford.

Peter Suthers, of Old Town, said Swindon could not get to the level of their opponents on the day.

“Personally I think there’s too many players on loan in the club,” he said.

“I think they can come back after this and be a lot stronger but they’re going to have to do some serious thinking because I never thought they would lose that badly. They were outclassed today, pure and simple.”

A red sea of support flooded Swindon earlier in the day as fans boarded coaches and packed out pubs to grab a slice of the play-off action.

More than 500 fans at the County Ground donned STFC match kit, jester hats, logo emblazoned hoodies, scarves and face paint to show their support as they waited for Wembley bound coaches.

The rhythmic notes of UB40s ’Can’t Help Falling In Love With you’ were heard across the waiting crowds as supporters geared up for one of the biggest matches in the club’s history.

Lifelong fan Kevin Lynch, from Haydon Wick, entertained the waiting crowds by bursting into song as he waited.

He predicted: “Ben Gladwin is going to be the star of the match. We’re going up, we’re going up.”

The crushing defeat hit town football fans hard but some believe that with a new team and fresh ideas the team may be able to claim their highly sought after promotion next season.

Dave Gosling, of Stratton, said: “I think they can come back from this but it’s all about the new guard now, who they’ll get in to stay permanently and get us to where we deserve to be.

“We have young players and a lot of enthusiasm. We must turn to them now.”

Town centre streets were left deserted as Robins fans stayed glued to their television sets or flocked to the pubs.