Alan Irvine said he did not rant and rave at his players at half-time as Preston North End roared back from a torrid start to earn a deserved point at Sheffield Wednesday.
The Lilywhites offered very little during the first period with Lee Grant a mere spectator in the home goal.
They fell behind to Sean McAllister's effort but Richard Chaplow's equaliser earned North End a point.
Alan Irvine said: "We didn't work well enough in the first half and Wednesday deserved their lead, but in the second half we were a lot better and definitely finished the game stronger and could have won it.
"I think everyone would like to think that I went in there and went absolutely ballistic but I didn't. I chose a calm head at half-time and spoke to the lads about how we got the good results that we have so far.
"I am delighted with the start though. It's seven points nearer to that first target of 50 to 53 points and if we can get that early, then we'll see whether we should get excited or not."
Sheffield Wednesday manager Brian Laws said: "There is a tinge of disappointment because the first-half performance was unbelievable.
"I thought it was fantastic to watch, both wingers were on form and how we came in only 1-0 up amazed me.
"That's football though. You have to take your chances when they come and I did say at half-time that Preston will have a spell.
"For their goal, we allowed their full-back to get his head up and smash a 50-yard ball which had no pressure on it and a poor judgement call from Tommy, who thought he could head it. Unfortunately he missed it and of course they got through and finished it well."
The full article contains 312 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
