Watch 26 Middlesbrough fans hitch a ride to the pub in POLICE VAN in hilarious video before season-ending Preston defeat

MIDDLESBROUGH fans hitched a ride to the pub in a POLICE VAN ahead of their final day clash with Preston.

Loyal Boro supporters made the journey west hoping their team could snatch a play-off place from Luton in the Championship's finale.

Chris Wilder's side dramatically failed to produce on the pitch, going down 4-1 at Deepdale.

But 26 supporters were at least handed a memorable moment before the game.

After arriving in Preston this morning, a number of travelling fans wanted to make their way to the pub before taking in the game.

Amazing video footage shows a select group hitching an unusual ride.

A clip circulating online shows a police van parking outside the pub.

Officers open the door, with 26 excited Boro fans piling out the back.

A number of social media users couldn't believe how many fans had managed to cram onboard.

One wrote: "That van is the tardis!"

Another commented: "Give these coppers a knighthood lol."

Boro's players couldn't conjure anything as miraculous on the pitch.

They went into the final day trailing sixth-placed Luton by two points.

But Wilder's side couldn't put any pressure on the Hatters at all, being thumped by Preston.

Alan Browne struck Ryan Lowe's side into a 24th minute lead, before a Dael Fry own goal made it 2-0 on 35 minutes.

Marcus Tavernier pulled one back for Boro shortly after half-time, but an Emil Riis Jakobsen double either side of Paddy McNair's red card completed a thumping.

As it turned out a Boro win wouldn't have been enough anyway, as the Hatters beat Reading 1-0 - after Harry Cornick mischievously caught out goalkeeper Orjan Nyland to score.