Dominant Villa back in the hunt

ASTON VILLA’S resurgence continues to gather pace under Steve Bruce as they brushed aside Preston to move back into the Championship play-off places.

In this fixture at Deepdale in October last season Villa were beaten 2-0 by North End – a result which cost Roberto Di Matteo his job and saw Bruce appointed.

After a shaky start this season Bruce was under pressure, but results have improved and Villa produced the kind of clinical performance here which should keep them in the promotion hunt towards the end of the campaign.

Preston manager Alex Neil was shorn of five defenders through injury and suspension, including skipper Paul Huntington.

As a result they began tentatively and unsurprisingly Villa, backed by a vociferous away support, quickly seized the initiative.

Preston goalkeeper Chris Maxwell made a fine save to keep out a sweet strike from Keinan Davis following a sweeping Villa counter-attack led by Albert Adomah.

Preston’s frailty at the back was then exposed from a corner as Villa took the lead. Robert Snodgrass’s SUBSTITUTE Neal Maupay turned around the match for Brentford as they deepened Birmingham’s relegation worries at St Andrew’s.

Blues failed to score for the third game in a row and were beaten by Ollie Watkins’ 74thminute penalty and Maupay’s 84th-minute strike.

Blues goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak made fine saves from Lasse

PRESTON ASTON VILLA

delivery picked out James Chester, who showed strength with Preston shirts around him to glance a header – via a deflection – beyond Chris Maxwell in the Preston goal.

John Terry may not quite have the pace he once, but his judgement and anticipation remain top class for Villa.

The former England captain was perfectly positioned to head a dangerous cross off the line midway through the half.

And his intervention proved crucial as Villa increased their lead just before the half hour. Ben Pearson gave the ball away cheaply, giving Josh Onomah the chance to run and cross low for Snodgrass, who confidently stroked it into the corner of the net.

Preston were much improved after the break and Paul Gallagher brought a save out of Villa goalkeeper Sam Johnstone with a long-range effort.

Bruce’s side were content to soak up the pressure and hit on the break, while Adomah missed a glorious chance to add a third.

BIRMINGHAM BRENTFORD

Vibe and Watkins but could not stop the forward scoring his seventh goal of the season from the spot after Maupay had earned the penalty.

Maikel Kieftenbeld rattled the woodwork for Blues just before half-time but Brentford, unbeaten in eight, were good value for the win.