Preston vs Aston Villa

Aston Villa have progressed to the semi-final of the FA Cup for the first time since the 2014-15 season, whilst today’s 3-0 victory was their biggest FA Cup win since beating Hull City in January 1999, also by a 3-0 scoreline.

Preston North End’s defeat today was their first at home across all competitions since a 1-3 defeat to Bristol City in November 2024, putting an end to a 15-match unbeaten run at Deepdale (W6 D9). Today was also the first time they lost at home by a 3+ goal margin since October 2024, which was also at the hands of a Premier League team – a 0-3 defeat to Arsenal in the League Cup fourth round.

Since his debut in the FA Cup (March 2016), Marcus Rashford has scored five quarter-final goals, one more than any other player in this timeframe, with today’s brace his first in the competition overall since January 2017 – for Manchester United against Reading in the third round.

Both Preston North End and Aston Villa have progressed from three of the six previous FA Cup ties between the sides, with this the first meeting since a 1-0 win for Aston Villa in January 1967.

Preston have won just one of their last 15 meetings with Aston Villa in all competitions (D9 L5). Each of the last three have finished in a draw, most recently a 1-1 at Deepdale in December 2018.

This is Preston’s first FA Cup quarter-final match since 1965-66, eventually losing to Manchester United. They last reached the semi-final of the competition in 1963-64, ultimately losing the final to West Ham United that year.

Aston 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.

Preston have lost 18 of their last 19 FA Cup games against top-flight opponents, with the only exception in this run a 4-1 win at Derby County in the fourth round in 2007-08.