Aston Villa secured their place in the FA Cup semi-finals with a commanding 3-0 victory over Preston North End at Deepdale on Sunday afternoon.

Despite periods of pressure from the hosts in the first half, Villa held firm and could have fallen behind had Stefan Thordarson not mistimed a close-range header.

However, Unai Emery’s side emerged revitalised after the break, and just before the hour mark, Marcus Rashford opened the scoring with a composed finish following a pinpoint cross from Lucas Digne—his first goal for the club.

Rashford quickly doubled Villa’s lead from the penalty spot just five minutes later, before Jacob Ramsey’s sensational solo goal sealed the win.

Villa will now face either Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, or Manchester City in the semi-final at Wembley in late April.

Few would have predicted that Emery could guide Villa back into Champions League contention, and should the Spaniard secure FA Cup glory, he would become the first manager to deliver a major trophy for the club since Brian Little’s League Cup triumph in 1996.

While Villa remain firmly in the race for European qualification through the league, their FA Cup ambitions now take centre stage, with a realistic path to silverware given the teams left in the competition.

For Preston, this cup run has provided a welcome distraction from a mid-table Championship campaign. However, with neither promotion nor relegation a likely prospect, their season now returns to a more routine focus.

Preston North End vs Aston Villa: Key Highlights

30th Minute: Thordarson's Missed Opportunity (Preston North End)

Preston work the ball down the right before delivering a dangerous cross into the box. Emiliano Martínez gets a hand to it, but the ball remains in play. Stefan Thordarson rises for the follow-up header but directs it wide—an opportunity missed!

52nd Minute: Rashford Spurns a Chance (Aston Villa)

A rapid counter-attack sees Morgan Rogers release Rashford on the left side of the penalty area. Cutting inside with intent, the winger delays his shot unnecessarily, allowing David Cornell to make a straightforward save. That should have been a goal!

58th Minute: Marcus Rashford Opens the Scoring (Preston North End 0-1 Aston Villa)

Lucas Digne finds space on the left and drills a low cross towards Rashford near the penalty spot. This time, the forward makes no mistake, steering a first-time finish into the bottom right corner—his first goal for Villa!

63rd Minute: Rashford Converts from the Spot (Preston North End 0-2 Aston Villa)

Following a foul on Morgan Rogers in the penalty area, Rashford steps up with confidence. After a stuttered run-up, he calmly dispatches the spot-kick into the bottom-right corner, doubling Villa’s advantage. That should be enough for Wembley!

71st Minute: Jacob Ramsey Seals Victory (Preston North End 0-3 Aston Villa)

Ramsey collects the ball deep in his own half, spins away from his marker, and surges forward. The midfielder glides past defenders before drilling a low strike beyond Cornell into the bottom left corner. Game over!

Man of the Match – Marcus Rashford

Rashford appears to have left his Manchester United struggles behind, finding his rhythm at Aston Villa. His two goals proved decisive in securing the club’s place at Wembley.

The forward led the match in key attacking metrics:

• Most shots (5)

• Most shots on target (4)

• Joint-most chances created (3)

Match Stats – Preston North End vs Aston Villa

• Possession: Preston North End 29% – 71% Aston Villa

• Shots: Preston North End 4 – 16 Aston Villa

• Shots on target: Preston North End 1 – 7 Aston Villa

• Corners: Preston North End 0 – 9 Aston Villa

• Fouls: Preston North End 17 – 7 Aston Villa

What’s Next?

Aston Villa return to Premier League action on Wednesday against Brighton & Hove Albion before hosting fellow semi-finalists Nottingham Forest on 5th April.

Preston, meanwhile, resume their Championship campaign with an away fixture against Derby County on Wednesday, followed by a home clash against Stoke City next Saturday.