The PNE boss chose restraint not rant to fire his men up after a dreadful first half.

And after they turned the game around to earn a creditable 1-1 draw, he admitted: "I think everyone would like to think I went in there and went absolutely ballistic and threw things around. But I didn't.

"I was fairly calm and spoke to the lads about how we have got the good results we have got so far.

"There are different ways of reacting and you have to try to find the best way at the time.

"You are never really too sure whether a lot of harsh words and shouting or a calm head will do the trick.

"I chose a calm head and fortunately things improved in the second half."

But while Irvine remained unflappable in front of his players, he turned his anger on referee Mike Russell from the touchline.

Three times water bottles were sent flying in the technical area as decision after decision went against Preston – the biggest outburst coming after Richard Chaplow's stinging shot appeared to be blocked by a defender's arm.

>>Read the match report here

Irvine said: "There were a few things that were upsetting. I try to keep calm, but football is an emotional game and sometimes it winds you up a little bit.

"I try as much as I possibly can not to look like an idiot jumping up and down. But there were some big decisions that didn't go our way.

"We got away with one last week and people say it evens itself out. But I think there were several at Hillsborough that weren't the right decisions."

PNE had their worst 45 minutes of the season to go in 1-0 down at half-time.

Had Wednesday's finishing been better, then it could have been all over at 3-0.

But two substitutions on the hour mark and a switch of wing for Chris Sedgwick triggered a fightback and Preston could even have won the match as they finished strongly.

Chaplow levelled 13 minutes from time, teed up by Sedgwick, and only desperate defending and that rejected penalty prevented Irvine's men from making it four wins out of four – which would have been their best start since 1933.

Irvine added: "We didn't work well enough in the first half and Wednesday deserved their lead.

"But we were a lot better in the second half and we finished the game the stronger of the two teams and could even have won it.

"I said to them at half-time that that wasn't us. We were poor. We didn't play at the right kind of tempo and we didn't pass the ball like we have been doing.

"We also gave the ball back to Wednesday far too cheaply."

Seven points out of nine has left Preston fourth in the table, but only on goal difference below Wolves and Bristol City in second and third.

Irvine said: "I am delighted with the start we have made.

"It is seven points nearer to our target which is 53 to make sure of staying in this division.

"If we can get that early we can have a look and see if we can get excited or not.

"I have to say, if you had offered me seven points from the first three games I would have snapped your hand off."