Match ends, Preston North End 0, Aston Villa 2.
PrestonPreston North End0Aston VillaAston Villa2
Aston Villa climbed back into the Championship top six with a clinical victory at Preston North End.
James Chester headed Villa into an early lead as he met a Robert Snodgrass corner at the near post.
Provider Snodgrass then turned scorer for the second as he swept in from the edge of the penalty box after Josh Onomah found him in space.
Preston failed to mount a reply in a third successive defeat and are now five league games without a win.
Alex Neil's side failed to handle the attacking threat from a Villa side which have now lost only once in their past 12 league games.
Villa also kept a clean sheet for the second time in four days after a goalless draw at Birmingham on Sunday and could have won by more had Albert Adomah converted a second-half chance on the break.
Preston's defence, already depleted through injury and suspension, suffered further setbacks as Calum Woods and Joshua Earl were forced off with knocks at half-time.
Sean Maguire twice had appeals for penalties waved away by referee Peter Bankes, first going down in the area from an apparent challenge by Chester and then again in the second when marked by John Terry.
Preston manager Alex Neil told BBC Radio Lancashire: "I've been in football since I was 16 and I've never known as many injuries at any club at one time.
"Both lads tonight are medial ligament injuries and there's nothing you can do about those injuries.
"The disappointing thing is we defended better with a patched up defence in the second half that we did in the first half."
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce told BBC WM: "In the first half in particular, we were excellent.
"With the chances we've created, it could have been more comfortable, but overall it was a really decent performance.
"My two centre-backs and my goalkeeper were immaculate all night."
Line-ups
Preston
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 22Maxwell
- 14Fisher
- 6Boyle
- 15WoodsSubstituted forGallagherat 45'minutes
- 32EarlSubstituted forO'Connorat 45'minutes
- 4Pearson
- 11Johnson
- 29BarkhuizenSubstituted forHorganat 77'minutes
- 8BrowneBooked at 55mins
- 24Maguire
- 9Hugill
Substitutes
- 7Horgan
- 10Harrop
- 12Gallagher
- 25O'Connor
- 27Mavididi
- 28Hudson
- 37Robinson
Aston Villa
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Johnstone
- 27El Mohamady
- 5Chester
- 26Terry
- 21Hutton
- 7SnodgrassSubstituted forde Laetat 88'minutes
- 6Whelan
- 14Hourihane
- 37Adomah
- 18OnomahSubstituted forJedinakat 67'minutes
- 39DavisBooked at 63minsSubstituted forHoganat 71'minutes
Substitutes
- 2de Laet
- 3Taylor
- 4Samba
- 9Hogan
- 13Steer
- 15Jedinak
- 20Bjarnason
- Referee:
- Peter Bankes
- Attendance:
- 14,212
Match Stats
Home TeamPrestonAway TeamAston Villa
- Possession
- Home58%
- Away42%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away3
- Corners
- Home3
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away17
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Preston North End 0, Aston Villa 2.
Post update
Attempt saved. Daryl Horgan (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Paul Gallagher.
Substitution
Substitution, Aston Villa. Ritchie de Laet replaces Robert Snodgrass.
Post update
Ben Pearson (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Glenn Whelan (Aston Villa).
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Sean Maguire (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Mile Jedinak (Aston Villa).
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Foul by Jordan Hugill (Preston North End).
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Mile Jedinak (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Kevin O'Connor (Preston North End) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Robert Snodgrass (Aston Villa).
Post update
Offside, Aston Villa. Sam Johnstone tries a through ball, but Scott Hogan is caught offside.
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Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Ahmed El Mohamady.
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Ben Pearson (Preston North End) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Glenn Whelan (Aston Villa).
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Jordan Hugill (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Mile Jedinak (Aston Villa).
Substitution
Substitution, Preston North End. Daryl Horgan replaces Tom Barkhuizen.
Post update
Attempt missed. Albert Adomah (Aston Villa) right footed shot from the left side of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Conor Hourihane.
