Preston North End interim head coach Frankie McAvoy is seeking to be a touch calmer on the touchline

The Scotsman is certainly not shy and retiring during the game, the position of the Press box for writers at Swansea on Monday giving an insight into what McAvoy is all about.

Perched just above the away team technical area, the Press were able to kick every ball, so to speak, with the PNE interim head coach.

It was a busy afternoon for fourth official Sam Allison, with Swansea boss Steve Cooper not the quiet type either.

With McAvoy in charge for the rest of the season, he knows he might have to be slightly calmer in his touchline manner.

McAvoy said: “That is something where I need get a wee bit more composure.

“I tried to be calmer in the Norwich game and I felt it was a bit of a learning curve.

“I do need to calm down at times, not get as involved as I was doing. When you’re down there on the touchline you just want the best for your side and want them to win.”

McAvoy has Steve Thompson, Paul Gallagher and Mike Pollitt for company in the dugout.

Gallagher was listed as a substitute at Swansea although concentrated exclusively on his coaching duties.

With injuries seeing Sean Maguire, Daniel Johnson and Anthony Gordon left at home, it was needs-must as far as Gallagher being on the bench was concerned.

Meanwhile, McAvoy has been pleased to add Tom Barkhuizen’s long throw-in to PNE’s armoury in the last couple of games.

It is not a totally new thing but there has been a great reliance on it in the last two games. The build-up to the winner at Swansea came about when Barkhuizen launched one into the box.

Said McAvoy: “Ahead of playing Swansea, it was something we had picked out.

“In their last game against Birmingham, they conceded a penalty from a long throw.

“I just thought with our size and presence we could get the first contact and then look for the second ball.

“We tried it in the game against Norwich and at times in that one we looked a threat too.”

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