Preston vs Aston Villa LIVE: Marcus Rashford scores first goals as Villa head for FA Cup semi-finals

Preston North End face Aston Villa at Deepdale today in the third of the four FA Cup quarter-finals this weekend.

Preston, the only Championship club left in the competition, are looking to make their first semi-final since 1964, though Paul Heckingbottom’s side have it all to do despite home advantage against Villa.

Unai Emery’s side are on a run of positive results and sit just four points off the top four in the Premier League, while they are preparing for their biggest match in decades as they face PSG in the Champions League last-eight in April.

Despite that, Emery will not dismiss the Lilywhites as an easy match as his makeshift team of stars bids to reach a first FA Cup final since 2015.

Follow all the updates from Deepdale below:

Preston vs Aston Villa LIVE

• Preston hosts Aston Villa in the FA Cup quarter-finals | Live on BBC One

• Villa are looking to make a first semi-final since 2015, when they lost to Arsenal in the final

• 72′ GOAL! Ramsey dances through to add third and send Villa through [PNE 0-3 AST]

• 62′ GOAL! Rashford adds another from penalty spot after Rogers fouled [PNE 0-2 AST]

• 60′ GOAL! Marcus Rashford scores first Villa goal to break deadlock [PNE 0-1 AST]

• 30′ CLOSE! Thordarson heads wide with Martinez off his line [PNE 0-0 AST]

Preston North End FC 0 – 3 Aston Villa FC

Preston 0-3 Aston Villa

15:11

83 mins

Two great chances in as many minutes for Watkins as Kamara dances through a challenge and slips in a perfect through ball, which forces the defender to commit and releases Watkins 1-v-1 with Cornell.

The England striker tries reversing a low shot into the far corner, but he drags it wide from just inside the box.

Preston 0-3 Aston Villa

15:09 , Chris Wilson

82 mins

CLOSE! Almost a goal with his first touch fir Watkins.

He should probably score too, as a cross is flashed across goal and he glances a header wide for around eight yards.

Preston 0-3 Aston Villa

15:08 , Chris Wilson

81 mins

Two more changes for Villa as Rashford and Cash come off for Ollie Watkins and Jose Garcia.

Preston 0-3 Aston Villa

15:07 , Chris Wilson

79 mins

Villa fans are serenading their side as they point out that they’re on their way to Wembley, with Mings blocking a speculative Preston effort and the away fans now greeting every successful pass with an ‘ole’.

Villa should find out their semi-final opponents pretty quickly, with the draw set to follow this match.

Preston 0-3 Aston Villa

15:05 , Chris Wilson

77 mins

Changes for Preston now as Riis and Meghoma come off for Ched Evans and Liam Lindsay.

Preston 0-3 Aston Villa

15:02 , Chris Wilson

74 mins

Cornell could’ve done better there but in truth the game was wrapped up with that second from Rashford.

Emery makes changes now as Asensio, Rogers and Tielemans come off for Amadou Onana, Donyell Malen and John McGinn.

GOAL! Preston 0-3 Aston Villa

15:00 , Chris Wilson

72 mins

GOAL! A lovely effort from Jacob Ramsey!

Villa have had a couple of chances since the second goal and now they’ve wrapped it up.

The ball breaks free to Ramsey in midfield and he sees the space open up in front of him.

He surges towards the box before taking an extra touch and firing an effort back across the ‘keeper and into the far corner.

Preston 0-2 Aston Villa

14:58 , Richard Jolly at Deepdale

Unai Emery has a habit of improving his sides in the second half. They were mediocre before the break against Brugge and scored three thereafter.

Now they have emerged for the second half a different side and have two goals. It means seven of their eight goals in this season’s FA Cup have come in second halves.

Sometimes it is because Emery’s recruitment has given him a strong bench, but this was accomplished with the starting 11.

Preston 0-2 Aston Villa

14:55 , Chris Wilson

67 mins

A sub for Preston as Will Keane is replaced by Milutin Osmajic.

A yellow card to report too, as Whiteman drags down Asensio.

Preston 0-2 Aston Villa

14:51 , Richard Jolly at Deepdale

No goal on 14 games for clubs and country for Rashford, two in a few minutes. His long wait is very much over.

GOAL! Preston 0-2 Aston Villa

14:51 , Chris Wilson

63 mins

GOAL!

Rashford steps up and sends the ‘keeper the wrong way as he side-foots it in.

2-0 and that could be the tie.

PENALTY TO VILLA! Preston 0-1 Aston Villa

14:49 , Chris Wilson

61 mins

PENALTY! Villa had a chance to make it two almost straight away, with Rogers’ shot blocked on the line, and now they have a penalty!

It’s such a silly challenge too. The ball rolls free in the box and Roger poke it back to a teammate, but after the ball has gone Hughes plants his foot straight on Rogers’ ankle in the box! So late, so obvious.

GOAL! Preston 0-1 Aston Villa

14:47 , Chris Wilson

58 mins

GOAL! And it is a first goal for Rashford!

It’s good ply from Villa, as the ball falls to Asensio in midfield and he rolls it on.

It comes forward to Digne, who’s made the overlapping run into the box, and he squares a perfect ball in to Rashford, who simply has to tap in to an open net.

A great goal all-round, and good positioning from Rashford.

Preston 0-0 Aston Villa

14:44 , Chris Wilson

56 mins

Another slightly wasteful piece of play from Rashford as he opts to cut inside rather than play the pass, and he loses the ball.

Preston 0-0 Aston Villa

14:42 , Richard Jolly at Deepdale

An opening for Marcus Rashford there but still no goal for Villa; or, indeed, anyone, since he scored for Manchester United against Sean Dyche’s Everton in December.

Rashford was largely anonymous in the first half. He has at least been brighter in the second but it will be interesting to see if and when Emery brings Ollie Watkins on.

Preston 0-0 Aston Villa

14:41 , Chris Wilson

52 mins

CLOSE! What a chance for Villa.

They win possession in their half and Rogers carries the ball all the way onto the edge of the area before slipping a pass in for Rashford.

The loanee’s first attempt is scuffed but it runs kindly for him, and rather than square a pass he opts to shoot again, but Cornell closes the shot down well.

Preston 0-0 Aston Villa

14:38 , Chris Wilson

50 mins

A slower start to the second half here. Preston win a free-kick within crossing distance of the box, but the routine is wasteful and Villa eventually clear for now.

Preston 0-0 Aston Villa

14:35 , Chris Wilson

47 mins

Villa win the first corner of the half but nothing comes of it as Rogers is pushed in the box. Nothing in the challenge either.

KICK-OFF! Preston 0-0 Aston Villa

14:32 , Chris Wilson

The second half is underway at Deepdale!

HALF-TIME! Preston 0-0 Aston Villa

14:30 , Chris Wilson

It’s been a fairly entertaining half at Deepdale, with the hosts digging in deep and having a couple of decent chances.

Villa have dominated in parts but they need to click in attack, as they’ve wasted some decent opportunities.

For Preston, it only takes one chance, as we’ve seen countless times in this competition.

The second half will start shortly.

HALF-TIME! Preston 0-0 Aston Villa

14:23 , Chris Wilson

HALF-TIME! Preston 0-0 Aston Villa

14:18

The referee brings the first half to an end at Deepdale, and there are plenty of cheers from the home fans as their side enters the break level.

Villa dominated possession and looked like they might turn the screw at one point, but Preston recovered and arguably had the best chance of the half.

Preston 0-0 Aston Villa

14:17 , Chris Wilson

44 mins

Preston are close to entering the break with a clean sheet here, and it’s nothing more than they deserve.

There’s a brief stoppage as Keane, who has already been booked, brings down Konsa…not a lot in it though.

Preston 0-0 Aston Villa

14:13

41 mins

More pressure from Villa, though nothing clear-cut in terms of chances. Asensio and Rogers have both delivered dangerous crosses, but the defending has been steadfast from the hosts up to now.

Preston 0-0 Aston Villa

14:09 , Chris Wilson

38 mins

The pressure is starting to build again from Villa, as Rashford’s corner is headed over by Konsa. Not an easy chance by any means.

Preston 0-0 Aston Villa

14:08 , Chris Wilson

36 mins

Good defending – and great pace – from Meghoma to get back and cover when under pressure from Rogers.

Preston counter from the corner but the ball forward towards Riis has too much on it.

Preston 0-0 Aston Villa

14:06 , Richard Jolly at Deepdale

A good chance for Stefan Thordarson to cap a fine start for Preston.

Paul Heckingbottom is trying to congest the centre of the pitch with his 3-5-2 formation.

A feature of it, however, is that one of the centre-backs will step out to track whoever is in Villa’s No 10 position – usually Marco Asensio – while the wing-backs then tuck in alongside the two remaining centre-backs.

Preston 0-0 Aston Villa

14:05 , Chris Wilson

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

14:04

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

14:02 , Chris Wilson

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

14:01 , Chris Wilson

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

13:59 , Chris Wilson

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

13:58 , Chris Wilson

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

13:55 , Chris Wilson

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

13:53 , Chris Wilson

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.

13:51 , Chris Wilson

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.

Preston 0-0 Aston Villa

13:49 , Chris Wilson

17 mins

Shouts around Deepdale as Meghoma is dragged down off the ball in a rare Preston attack, but the ref waves it away.

Villa have certainly settled now, with Preston happy to sit back at the moment.

Preston 0-0 Aston Villa

13:47 , Richard Jolly

Deepdale is loud. It is far from the only tie this season that suggests the FA Cup can mean more to clubs who aren’t accustomed to always being involved at this stage.

The one-off flavour of the occasion – certainly in the lifetime of many Preston fans – has caused a complication or two, however.

Preston probably released too many white balloons on the pitch beforehand. Even with Robbie Brady stamping on a few, there are still several on the edge of the penalty box.

Preston 0-0 Aston Villa

13:46 , Chris Wilson

14 mins

CLOSE! The first real chance of the game falls to Villa.

Asensio picks up the clearance from his corner and floats a lovely cross in to the area around the penalty spot. Mings misses it but Konsa gets a head to it, but he can only flash it wide! Probably should’ve scored in truth.

Preston 0-0 Aston Villa

13:43

12 mins

It’s starting to get worrying for Preston, with Villa getting forward with ease.

Rashford’s cross is put out for a corner, and from the set-piece, the hosts counter before Cash does well to win a free-kick off Riis.

Preston 0-0 Aston Villa

13:41 , Chris Wilson

10 mins

There are dozens of balloons floating around near the Preston area as Ramsey is brought down around 30 yards out. There’s a lot of space for the Villa midfielders when they pick the ball up.

Rashford lines up the set-piece – it’s on target but it’s too tame to trouble Cornell.

Preston 0-0 Aston Villa

13:39 , Chris Wilson

8 mins

Another encouraging foray forward from Villa as Ramsey gets forward well on the overlap, but there’s a foul in the box as the shot is prevented.

Preston 0-0 Aston Villa

13:38 , Chris Wilson

6 mins

Encouraging early signs for Villa, as Martinez comfortably collects a long throw a minute or so after Lucas Digne had wasted a half-chance after some great play in midfield.

Preston 0-0 Aston Villa

13:36 , Chris Wilson

4 mins

Plenty of early possession for Villa but this particular period ends with Asensio playing a cross-field ball straight of play.

Both sides just looking to settle in the opening stages.

Preston 0-0 Aston Villa

13:34 , Chris Wilson

2 mins

Early shouts from the home fans for a penalty as Will Keane goes down, but nothing doing for the ref.

The replays show that there was nothing in it.

Preston 0-0 Aston Villa

13:33 , Chris Wilson

1 mins

Rogers has started on the right for Villa, with Asensio down the middle.

Robbie Brady is deployed as a right wing-back for the hosts, with Thordarson as the advanced midfielder and Keane and Riis leading the line.

KICK-OFF! Preston 0-0 Aston Villa

13:32 , Chris Wilson

We’re underway up north! Can Preston spring the first upset in the last eight?

Preston vs Aston Villa team news and how to watch

13:31 , Jamie Braidwood

How can I watch it?

The match will be shown free-to-air on BBC One.

Confirmed line-ups

Preston XI: Cornell; Storey, Gibson, Hughes, Brady, Whiteman, Thordarson, Meghoma, Frokjaer, Keane, Riis.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Tielemans, Kamara; Asensio, Rogers, Ramsey; Rashford.

Preston vs Aston Villa LIVE

13:25 , Chris Wilson

Both sides are in the tunnel at Deepdale, and we’ll be underway soon in the third of four FA Cup quarter-finals this weekend.

Why this weekend’s FA Cup quarter-finals are a once-in-a-generation event

13:20 , Chris Wilson

At Brighton this week, it had been suggested the club supply fans with special flags to give Saturday a proper sense of occasion, but this was rejected by manager Fabian Hurzeler and the wider staff. They want the players to treat this FA Cup quarter-final at home to Nottingham Forest as if it’s just another home game. That tends to be an attitude more conducive to actually winning, especially when you can sense the excitement building around the training ground.

Brighton are far from the only club wrestling with such competing emotions this weekend, because the majority of those left in the FA Cup are keenly aware this isn’t just another game. It’s a historic, and maybe unique, opportunity.

There will be no debates about the competition’s meaning. Most of the clubs who most frequently win it – including its five most successful clubs over the last 34 years and nine of its past 10 winners – are out. It really couldn’t mean more to those left.

Why this weekend’s FA Cup quarter-finals are a once-in-a-generation event

When is the FA Cup semi-final draw?

13:15 , Chris Wilson

Here’s everything you need to know about the draw for the final four of the oldest national football competition in the world, which started back in 1871.

When is the FA Cup semi-final draw?

Match facts

13:12 , Chris Wilson

Preston have won just one of their last 15 meetings with Aston Villa in all competitions (D9 L5), and have lost 18 of their last 19 FA Cup games against top-flight opponents.

Villa have won each of their last four FA Cup quarter-final matches, with this their first since a 2-0 win against West Bromwich Albion in 2014-15.

FA Cup results so far

13:08 , Chris Wilson

Ahead of the first Sunday game, here’s a brief look at the results from yesterday’s two quarter-finals, with match reports linked.

Fulham 0-3 Crystal Palace

Brighton 0-0 Nottingham Forest (3-4 pens)

Preston vs Aston Villa LIVE

13:05 , Richard Jolly

A fixture that predates even the Football League. Preston knocked the holders Aston Villa out of the FA Cup in 1888, a few months before the first Football League game; Preston need no reminders they were its inaugural champions. But they have not won the FA Cup since 1938 or Villa since 1957.

Unai Emery has named a stronger side than many expected, with Ollie Watkins fit enough to be on the bench and Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio both starting, while Preston are weakened by the loss of injured goalkeeper Freddie Woodman and the ineligibility of the excellent Kaine Kesler-Hayden, who is on loan from Villa.

Head-to-head

13:00 , Chris Wilson

Unsurprisingly, these two sides have met plenty of times in the past – around 116 to be more exact, with the first coming as far back as 1888.

Overall, Villa have 57 wins to Preston’s 38, with 21 ending as draws.

The last time these two met was across the Championship season in 2018/19, when they played out a 3-3 draw at Villa Park and a 1-1 at Deepdale.

The rise of Morgan Rogers: ‘Unai Emery drags the best out of you – he battered me over one little thing’

12:53 , Chris Wilson

A manager imported at considerable expense tends to be demanding, his high standards and attention to detail rendering him a perfectionist. So Morgan Rogers can testify. The Aston Villa attacking midfielder is a rookie at international level, but 14 months under Unai Emery could serve as a fine grounding for his time playing for Thomas Tuchel and England.

Emery has enabled a footballer who was relegated from the Championship two years ago to score a Champions League hat-trick this season. He has taken Rogers to levels few envisaged; certainly not Manchester City when they sold him in 2023. He has done it, a grateful Rogers grins, by always wanting more.

“Never a moment’s rest,” he said. “When you probably least expect it is where he’ll catch you out, telling you about yourself. For me personally, I wouldn’t change it. It’s what you need sometimes, when you’ve had a few good games, sometimes you might not be as at it, that 1 per cent. He will make sure that 1 per cent is nipped in the bud straight away. He always drags the best out of you.”

The rise of Morgan Rogers: ‘Unai Emery battered me over one little thing’

Team news

12:48 , Chris Wilson

For Villa, Emery has made three changes to the side that beat Club Brugge in the Champions League.

In defence, Lucas Digne comes in for Ian Maatsen, while upfront, Marcus Rashford leads the line in place of Ollie Watkins, who picked up an injury on England duty. The striker is replaced by Jacob Ramsey, who moves to left wing.

John McGinn is the other player benched, as he comes out for Marco Asensio, with Morgan Rogers presumably moving into the central attacking midfield role.

Team news

12:45 , Chris Wilson

Preston boss Heckingbottom has made five changes to the side that beat Portsmouth 2-1 last time out.

In goal, Freddie Woodman drops out for David Cornell, while it looks like a back-three in defence with Jordan Storey and Andrew Hughes replacing Liam Lindsay and Ryan Porteous.

It looks like Robbie Brady comes in for Kaine Kesler-Hayden at wing-back, while in midfield, Ryan Ledson is replaced by Ben Whiteman.

It all stays the same in the attacking positions, with Will Keane and Emil Riis Jakobsen leading the line.

Line-ups

12:37 , Chris Wilson

Preston XI: Cornell; Storey, Gibson, Hughes, Brady, Whiteman, Thordarson, Meghoma, Frokjaer, Keane, Riis.

Subs: Stowell; Lindsay, Bauer, Pasiek, Tarry, Carroll, T. Mawene, Evans, Osmajic.

Villa line-up

12:35 , Chris Wilson

Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Tielemans, Kamara; Asensio, Rogers, Ramsey; Rashford.

Subs: Olsen, Bogarde, Maatsen, Garcia, Torres, Onana, Malen, Watkins, McGinn.

Team news

12:25 , Chris Wilson

We’re expecting the line-ups to be released in the next five minutes…

The Aston Villa star who represents remarkable rise and offers Champions League boost

12:15 , Chris Wilson

The report from Villa’s last match…

Six years ago, Aston Villa’s April included a trip to Rotherham. Now they will visit Paris next month. Their horizons have broadened, their life got more glamorous. A Championship club in 2019 are Champions Leaguequarter-finalists in 2025. “It’s mad,” said the captain John McGinn, a veteran of the journey to Rotherham. “A lot of years of hard work.”

They will face Paris Saint-Germain in the last eight after a brace from a loaned PSG player, Marco Asensio, with the added benefit that he will be eligible to play his parent club at the Parc des Princes. It is another indication of how far and how fast Villa have come that a triple Champions League winner was on the scoresheet for them again. So, too, was Ian Maatsen, a Champions League finalist with Borussia Dortmund last season. Club Brugge, who scarcely boast the resources to attract such players, were eliminated.

The Aston Villa star who represents remarkable rise and offers Champions League boost

Is the match on TV?

12:05 , Chris Wilson

When is Preston vs Aston Villa?

The FA Cup quarter-final will kick off at 1.30pm on Sunday, 30 March at Deepdale Stadium in Preston.

How can I watch it?

The match will be shown free-to-air on BBC One, with coverage starting at 1.15pm. Subscribers can also stream the action online via BBC iPlayer.

Predicted line-ups

11:50 , Chris Wilson

Preston XI: Woodman; Kesler-Hayden, Porteous, Lindsay, Gibson, Meghoma; Ledson, Þórðarson, Frokjaer-Jensen; Keane, Jakobsen.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; Kamara, Tielemans; Rogers, McGinn, Asensio; Rashford.

Team news

11:45 , Chris Wilson

For Villa, Ollie Watkins is the only new injury doubt after the international break, as the England striker was forced off due to a knee issue against Albania.

Ross Barkley is the other player who will likely be out, so Emery has almost a full squad to pick from – though the question remains how strong a line-up he will choose.

Marcus Rashford could make a start at striker in Watkins’ absence, while Marco Asensio will be looking to build upon his good recent performances.

Team news

11:30 , Chris Wilson

Preston boss Heckingbottom has a number of potential absentees ahead of the match, with right-back Brad Potts a doubt alongside midfielder Ali McCann and centre-back Jack Whatmough.

Striker Milutin Osmajic has suffered from a hip issue in recent weeks, and he could make his return having recently been charged by the FA over alleged racist abuse.

Defender Jordan Storey had a recent injury lay-off but returned and should be fine to face Villa.

Preston vs Aston Villa LIVE

11:15 , Chris Wilson

Preston North End take on Aston Villa at Deepdale in the first of two FA Cup quarter-finals today, with the Championship side looking to cause an upset in the last-eight.

Paul Heckingbottom’s side are the only team from the second tier left in the competition, though they have a storied past in the Cup, winning it twice and finishing as losing finalists on five occasions, the most recent of which was in 1965.

That year was also the last time the Lilywhites reached the semi-finals, and if they’re to make it to Wembley they’ll have to beat an in-form Villa team.

Unai Emery’s side are just four points of top four and have a huge Champions League last-eight tie against PSG coming up, but they won’t dismiss this match as an easy one as they bid to reach a first final since 2015.

Preston vs Aston Villa LIVE

10:59 , Chris Wilson

Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of today’s FA Cup quarter-final match between Preston and Aston Villa.

Unai Emery’s side head into the game as heavy favourites as they bid to make a first semi-final appearance since 2015, while Preston hope for a fairytale cupset at Deepdale as they look to make the last-four of this competition for the first time since 1964.

We’ll have all the latest updates and team news right here.