Preston 0-3 Aston Villa: Player ratings as Rashford brace sends Villans to Wembley | OneFootball

A second-half burst from Aston Villa toppled a spirited Preston North End on Sunday afternoon as Unai Emery's Premier League visitors eventually eased to a 3-0 FA Cup quarter-final victory.

The only Championship team which made it into the last eight of the FA Cup were also hampered by an injury crisis running throughout the squad. However, Paul Heckingbottom's side started their first quarter-final appearance since 1966 positively, frustrating their top-flight visitors.

Villa were limited to just one wayward Ezri Konsa header in the first half, while Preston's Stefan Thordarson squandered a golden aerial opportunity of his own inside the opening half-hour.

Marcus Rashford scuffed two chances to break the deadlock after the interval before belatedly picking out the bottom corner in the 59th minute. Striding confidently onto Lucas Digne's low cross, the Manchester United loanee was on hand to score his first goal in Aston Villa's colours.

After waiting six weeks, nine games and 520 minutes to break his duck for Villa, Rashford completed his brace in the space of 300 seconds. Morgan Rogers tumbled under an errant stamp from Andrew Hughes, winning a penalty which his compatriot coolly converted.

Jacob Ramsey rammed home the visitors' advantage with a buccaneering forward surge to book Villa's place in next month's semi-finals.

Preston player ratings (3-5-2)

Preston's Will Keane was a pest up front / Stu Forster/GettyImages

*Ratings provided by FotMob*

Subs not used: Li-Bau Stowell (GK), Kacper Pasiek, Patrick Bauer, Troy Tarry.

Aston Villa player ratings (3-5-2)

Aston Villa were heavy favourites for Sunday's FA Cup tie / Matt McNulty/GettyImages

*Ratings provided by FotMob*

Subs not used: Robin Olsen (GK), Ian Maatsen, Lamare Bogarde, Pau Torres.