Preston aggrieved as ‘soft’ penalty saves Villa

Aston Villa missed a chance to reclaim second spot as Preston North End confirmed their promotion credentials.

Villa needed a disputed penalty to salvage a point that denied Preston the win that would have taken them level with sixth-placed Bristol City in the table.

“We were the better side and created the better chances, so I’m disappointed it took a very soft penalty to get them back in the match,” Alex Neil, the Preston manager, said.

An acrobatically executed first- half strike from Tom Barkhuizen after an indecisive punch from goalkeeper Sam Johnstone had given Preston the lead. The margin could have been extended, with Villa made to defend frantically, but Johnstone redeemed himself with a couple of good saves.

Villa again missed the cutting edge of top-scorer Albert Adomah and the guile and dynamism of Jack Grealish in midfield, both injured, although they tested Preston goalkeeper Declan Rudd at the start, with Birkir Bjarnason and John Terry forcing saves.

They were not helped by losing another of their big guns in Robert Snodgrass, who did not re-emerge for the second half after feeling unwell, although there was promise in the performance of Lewis Grabban. The January loan arrival looked sharp, calmly putting away the penalty for good measure.

Preston were furious when the referee pointed to the spot after 66 minutes, judging that Barkhuizen had brought down Keinan Davis in what looked initially like a blameless coming-together.

Bruce confessed he was surprised by the decision, although he changed his mind after watching a replay. “I thought it looked soft, but when you see it again, their lad has jumped in,” he said.

The goal roused Villa enough to put Preston on the back foot for the first time in the match, although they lacked the quality of execution, Davis missing their best chance in stoppage time when he volleyed wide.

Aston Villa (4-1-4-1) Johnstone; Tuanzebe (Elmohamady 85), Chester, Terry, Hutton; Jedinak; Snodgrass (Grabban h-t), Hourihane (Davis h-t), Onomah, Bjarnason; Hogan. Subs Bunn (g), Taylor, Whelan, Lansbury. Booked Bjarnason, Jedinak, Terry.

Preston North End (4-2-3-1) Rudd; Fisher, Huntingdon, Davies, Cunnigham; Pearson, Browne; Bodin (Harrop 90), Robinson; Barkhuizen (Simpson 90); Moult (Horgan 83). Subs Maxwell (g), Woods, Spurr, Earl. Booked Fisher, Pearson, Rudd.

Referee Darren England (Sth Yorkshire).