Two goals inside five minutes from Marcus Rashford helped Aston Villa to a deserved 3-0 defeat of Preston North End in the Emirates FA Cup quarter-finals.
After a scoreless first-half, Rashford broke the deadlock just before the hour mark when he slid home Lucas Digne's low cross before doubling his tally from the spot not long after.
Jacob Ramsey then sealed the result when he fired home after a lung-bursting run towards the box from a free-kick.
Aston Villa enjoyed the lion's share of possession from kick-off, though a defiant Preston rearguard capably restricted the Villans' threat from open play.
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It took ten minutes for Unai Emery's side to attempt an effort at goal as Rashford lofted a free-kick over the wall and into the arms of David Cornell.
A deflected corner minutes later saw Marco Asensio swing the ball into the 18-yard box in search of an unmarked Ezri Konsa, with the Deepdale faithful breathing sighs of relief when the defender was unable to latch onto the delivery.
Down the other end of the pitch, Preston came close to scoring the opener after working the ball out wide to Robbie Brady on the right.
The Irishman's cross forced Emiliano Martinez to punch clear but the Argentinian was unable to avert danger, with the ball finding its way back into the middle for Stefan Thordarson, though the Icelandic could only watch his effort sail wide.
Tyrone Mings then came to his side's rescue from another Brady cross, heading away to spare his side's blushes before an Emil Riis long throw into the box closed out the first half, with Villa scrambling the ball away.
The restart began with Preston pushing higher into Villa's half and Unai Emery's side duly exploited the space left in-behind with Rashford finding himself one-on-one with Cornell, only to scuff his strike straight at the keeper.
But Rashford made no mistake the second time around, Digne's ball finding the England international within acres of space to slide home and open his Villa account in style.
Having been frustrated by Preston for large periods of the match, Villa begun to enjoy themselves and duly doubled their lead after Andrew Hughes fouled Morgan Rogers inside the area, the resultant penalty seeing Rashford send the 'keeper the wrong way.
Villa then put the finishing touches on the result when Jacob Ramsey raced into the box before firing home to confirm their places in the semi-finals.
