Preston vs Aston Villa LIVE: Marcus Rashford scores first goals as Villa reach FA Cup semi-finals
Preston 0-3 Aston Villa: Rashford scored twice as Unai Emery’s side booked a trip to Wembley
Marcus Rashford scored his first goals for Aston Villa as they cruised to victory at Preston North End to reach the FA Cup semi-finals.
Rashford had made an excellent impression since joining Villa on loan from Manchester United but had gone nine games without a goal for Unai Emery’s side.
But he struck twice in three minutes to send Villa to Wembley, where they will face Crystal Palace, first finishing off a swift move and then converting a penalty after Morgan Rogers was fouled in the box.
Preston, who were the only Championship team to reach the quarter-finals, offered little in the second half and Jacob Ramsey made it three.
It continues Villa’s strong season in the cups and they will have an FA Cup semi-final against Palace to look forward to, as well as their Champions League quarter-final against PSG.
Follow all the reaction from Deepdale below:
Preston 0-0 Aston Villa
33 mins
Another brilliant delivery from the right by Brady, but this one is headed away well by Mings.
Preston are growing into the game here.
Preston 0-0 Aston Villa
32 mins
At the other end, Rashford makes a great run but some good defending sees the cross forced out for successive corners, the first of which Cornell pushes away while under pressure.
The second is headed away well by Brady.
Preston 0-0 Aston Villa
30 mins
CLOSE! The first chance for the hosts.
The ball is swept wide to Brady, who cuts back inside and clips a brilliant ball towards goal.
Martinez palms it away but has been forced away from the goal, and the ball is played back in to Thordarson, who heads wide with the ‘keeper off his line!
Preston 0-0 Aston Villa
29 mins
Rashford opts to shoot from the set-piece but it’s poor and straight at his own player.
Preston 0-0 Aston Villa
28 mins
The first yellow of the day as Keane is booked for tripping Tielemans.
This free-kick is a little further out for Villa.
Preston 0-0 Aston Villa
26 mins
Better signs from the hosts as they manage to keep the ball for a while, playing a few good passes before Meghoma is eventually shepherded off the ball at the byline.
Preston 0-0 Aston Villa
24 mins
74 per cent possession for the visitors so far, which tells a lot of the story of thus match. They’ve been dominant in every aspect.
Preston have settled a little better since that barrage of early Villa chances though, but they haven’t managed to fashion a real chance yet.
Preston 0-0 Aston Villa
21 mins
Another dangerous free-kick for Villa as Storey brings down Ramsey around 25 yards out.
Rashford lines it up again, alongside Digne – but the Frenchman blasts it over the bar.
19 mins
Almost some superb play from Rogers as he turns inside and out of Whiteman in the box, but the Preston man is equal to it eventually.
Rogers would’ve been 1-v-1 with Cornell had the midfielder not made the challenge.
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