Boyle holds his hands up and admits Cobblers 'battered' shell-shocked Robins

Cheltenham went into the clash at Whaddon Road protecting a 2-0 lead from the first-leg at the PTS Academy Stadium, but they were stunned by a dominant Cobblers performance with Keith Curle's men winning 3-0 on the night to set up a Wembley play-off final against Exeter City.

Town went at the Robins from the first kick, and the startled home side had no reply to the pace, energy and sheer will to win of the team in black and grey.

Cheltenham, who had been so assured, confident and composed at the PTS a few days earlier, were edgy, nervous and wasteful, and Boyle can't get his head round why that was the case.

“A lot of people are soul searching in the dressing room because I don’t think we have been as bad as that all season, and it’s come on the biggest occasion,” said Boyle.

“I can’t really put my finger on why at the minute, but it’s something we have to put our finger on moving forward because we have to use it going into next season.

“Everything we’ve done all year, the nitty-gritty of the game and what we’ve been unbelievable at all year, we didn’t do from minute one.

“The amount of first contacts and second balls they won… they battered us in that area, which is what their game is built on and they are good at it, but we pride ourselves on it as well.

“From there we never built a platform and we didn’t look like us for five minutes in the game, from minute one to minute 90 – a complete lack of b******s to be honest, from everyone.

“They ran over the top of us and it’s happened at home, so that’s something we are going to have to address.”

The Cobblers won it thanks to a first-half header from Vadaine Oliver, and two close range second-half strikes from West Brom loanee Callum Morton.

The second of those came after an horrendous mix-up between Boyle and goalkeeper Owen Evans, and the central defender was distraught.

“I should clear the third goal, no doubt about it,” said Boyle. “I will watch the game, get it out of the system and try and learn from it. That’s something I’ve tried to do throughout my career.

“It’s got to be a catalyst to kick on for me personally now and I am sure the team will too."