Marcus Rashford ended his four-month wait for a goal with a brace as Aston Villa secured a 3-0 victory over Preston, booking their place in the FA Cup semi-finals.
The on-loan forward’s last goals came for Manchester United in December, but he made his mark at Deepdale, tapping in Lucas Digne’s cutback in the 58th minute before confidently converting a penalty just five minutes later.
Jacob Ramsey sealed the win with a powerful strike from the edge of the area, again set up by the influential Digne, as Villa reached the last four of the competition for the first time in a decade.
Rashford Back Among the Goals
Rashford arrived at Villa Park with a point to prove, and despite his experience—including two FA Cup triumphs with Manchester United—his 14-game goal drought had fueled doubts about his form.
Unai Emery, however, has shown faith in the 27-year-old, and that trust was rewarded.
After spurning earlier chances—including a tame free-kick and a smothered one-on-one attempt—Rashford’s persistence paid off when he slotted home Villa’s opener.
Moments later, he stepped up for a penalty, coolly sending David Cornell the wrong way to end his barren run.
A well-crafted attacking move could have earned him an assist as well, but Boubacar Kamara and Morgan Rogers both failed to convert his clever setup.
Rashford’s performance earned him a standing ovation from the traveling Villa fans when he was substituted late on—proof of their growing belief in his resurgence.
Preston's Brave Fight Ends in Defeat
Deepdale, a stadium rich in history, hosted its biggest crowd since 1971, but despite their determined effort, Preston were simply outclassed.
The Championship side battled valiantly, with Jayden Meghoma producing a stunning recovery tackle and Robbie Brady throwing himself in front of a Digne cross to keep Villa at bay.
However, their resistance could only last so long.
Their best chance came when Stefan Thordarson headed wide with the game still goalless, but once Rashford struck, any hopes of an upset faded.
Preston’s proud cup run comes to an end, while Villa march on, keeping their FA Cup dream alive as they prepare for a semi-final showdown with Crystal Palace.