North End has gained 4 points against two well-funded outfits, albeit with two last-gap deflected goals (it doesn't matter when or how you score goals). That said, performances wise, at Swansea, North End earned the right to claim that they ought to have been 2 goals ahead by the latter stages. Versus parachuted Canaries, any point gained deserves recognition.
I previously endorsed promoting new managers from within the camp. I had Paul Gallagher in mind. At a critical time of the season, McAvoy's promotion has already yielded some much-needed points and stopped the rot, which has - for the time being - justified the board's decision to promote from within.
Not only does promotion-from-within allow the new manager to hit the ground running - but it also imbues a club philosophy that demands managers improve the club and smooth the transfer of power for the next man and so on. It doesn't waste time with a random new guy asking for 16 months' of patience from the fans. Credit goes to Alex Neil for recently bringing Paul Gallagher in as coach. I am sure that Gallagher is popular with the players and this may have presented a direct threat to Neil's tenancy. I suspect that Neil had tired of the club selling his best players, and was getting a bit fed up with what he had left to work with. Whether his promotion of Gallagher to coach was inviting mutiny, it appears more likely after the recent performances and results. Come what may - 4 points from 6 were desperately needed to maintain a 10 point distance from 22nd place.
There is the question of why Preston's professional footballers didn't show this recent burst of fight and enthusiasm 4 weeks ago? If I was their employer I would be asking that question of them and why the sudden burst of passion? The answers would be interesting. Player and agent power is strong these days. Recent weeks events indicate that a mutiny in the ranks is a strong causative contender. Significantly (perhaps), once Neil's lieutenants - Pearson and Davies - had departed, Neil soon found himself on the plank.
I would endorse a policy of continuity at the club, for the foreseeable future.
