BARK BITES BRUCIE

..but Lewis breaks duck to Grabb point

LEWIS GRABBAN’S first goal for the club rescued Villa and their promotion bid.

Villa were outplayed for long spells and a mistake by keeper Sam Johnstone put them in big trouble.

He failed to land a decent punch as Steve Bruce’s men faced a KO for the second game in a row, their recent run of seven successive league wins forgotten.

Johnstone, on loan from Manchester United, gave a goal away in the defeat at Fulham on Saturday.

And he was at fault again eight minutes before half time when his attempt to punch away a corner lacked power and accuracy.

Preston’s Tom Barkhuizen fired in an overhead kick and although Johnstone got a hand to the ball, he could only push it into the net.

It left Villa, poor and second best, with a lot to do. They are thinking of buying Johnstone for about £8million in the summer and two saves he made from Paul Huntington and Callum Robinson in the second half perhaps kept the deal on.

He certainly kept Villa from being buried and boss Bruce made two changes at half time that paid off.

Sub Keinan Davis was shoved in the back and referee Darren England backed his linesman’s decision that it was a penalty.

Sub No.2, Grabban, on loan from Bournemouth, converted the 66th-minute spot-kick to get the home side off the hook.

North End keeper Declan Rudd made saves from Birkir Bjarnason, John Terry, Scott Hogan and Alan Hutton before the break but they were isolated threats in a game Preston ought to have won. Villa survived to stay third in the table.

Their failure to do better against a Preston team now beaten only once in 17 league games might be felt tonight, with second placed Cardiff and Derby in action.