Match report: Aston Villa 1 PNE 1

A controversial penalty denied them what would have been a head-turning victory against Steve Bruce's automatic promotion-chasing side.

Tom Barkhuizen had given North End a 37th minute lead with an overhead kick, helped by a mistake from Villa goalkeeper Sam Johnstone - PNE's keeper for the second-half of their 2014/15 promotion campaign.

It was a deserved advantage once they had ridden some early Villa pressure and a lead they had chances to add to with Paul Huntington and Callum Robinson denied by two Johnstone saves in the second half.

But the pendulum swung the home side's way with 66 minutes on the clock, Barkhuizen judged to have knocked over substitute Keinan Davis in the box as they challenged for a cross.

The general consensus, certainly among the sizeable away following and certainly the Preston players and bench was that it was soft to say the very least.

Referee Darren England thought otherwise on the say-so of his assistant and pointed to the spot, substitute Lewis Grabban scoring the penalty.

It was a third 1-1 draw in a row for North End, all creditable in their own way against Brentford, Wolves and now Villa.

But there was a big feeling of frustration in the away camp, with them strongly of the view they deserved more from the trip down the M6.

The clash was entertaining, full of incident and very open with both teams ready to attack - however for good spells of the contest Preston were in control.

Greg Cunningham, Louis Moult and Ben Pearson had returned to the North End starting XI, those the three changes from last Saturday's draw with league leaders Wolves.

Neil opted for a 4-4-2 system with Robinson partnering Moult up front, Alan Browne dropping in next to Pearson in the centre of midfield.

Early Villa pressure forced Declan Rudd to make two saves in quick succession.

The first of those in the eighth minute saw the PNE goalkeeper dive to push behind a 20-yard shot from Birkir Bjarnason who had been allowed to cut in field from the left-wing.

Robert Snodgrass' resulting corner was met by John Terry, the Villa skipper's header plucked out of the air by Rudd at the far post.

North End began to find their rhythm and settled into a good pattern of play as the first half progressed, their high press a constant thorn in Villa's side.

A stray pass from the back from Terry was intercepted by Robinson in the Villa half, the front man moving towards the box and hitting a low shot from 20 yards which flashed just wide.

Browne then tried his luck with an effort from outside the box but did not get the power needed on the shot and Johnstone's diving save was a comfortable one.

Rudd saved well at the foot of the post after Scott Hogan got a shot away from a tight angle having chased a Terry flick-on across the box, the keeper later policing the same area well to push Alan Hutton's low shot behind.

Preston took the lead in the 37th minute after forcing a corner on the left side, one which Robinson delivered into the middle.

Mile Jedinak headed it up into the air as he challenged with Huntington, then Johnstone came out to try and punch clear.

But he succeeded only in punching it straight back up into the air, Barkhuizen with his back to goal sending an overhead kick goalwards which the back-pedalling Johnstone could only help into the net.

With his tail up, Barkhuizen saw a 45th minute shot saved by Johnstone after coming inside off the left wing.

PNE forced two corners in quick succession at the start of the second half, the second of those almost producing a goal.

Billy Bodin sent over a corner left-footed from the right, Huntington's header clawed off the line by Johnstone, with Axel Tuanzebe mopping up the loose ball.

In the 55th minute, Pearson dropped a ball over the top of the Villa defence which left Robinson unmarked in the box with his back to goal.

He turned and got a shot away, although looked surprised to find himself with so much room, and Johnstone was off his line quickly to block his effort.

The complexion of the game changed in the 66th minute when Villa were awarded a penalty which looked soft to say the least, certainly harsh on North End.

When the ball came into the box from the left, there was a coming together between Barkhuizen and Davis.

At first glance it looked soft, Barkhuizen more standing his ground rather than fouling Davis, but Mr England pointed to the spot with the linesman flagging for a penalty.

After much protest, Pearson booked for saying a word too many out of turn, Grabban rolled the spot kick past Rudd.

Preston responded with some swift counter-attack led by Barkhuizen down the left channel, Robinson seeing a shot blocked and a toe-poked rising effort from Moult was saved.

More than eight minutes of stoppage-time was played, during which 18-year-old Connor Simpson came on for his PNE debut in place of the limping Barkhuizen.

Villa: Johnstone, Tuanzebe (Elmohamady 85), Chester, Terry, Hutton, Snodgrass (Davis 46), Jedinak, Hourihane (Grabban 46), Bjarnason, Onomah, Hogan. Subs (not used): Taylor, Whelan, Lansbury, Bunn.

PNE: Rudd, Fisher, Huntington, Davies, Cunningham, Bodin (Harrop 90) Pearson, Browne, Barkhuizen (Simpson 90), Robinson, Moult (Horgan 83). Subs (not used): Spurr, Earl, Woods, Maxwell.

Referee: Darren England (Barnsley)

Attendance: 30,894 (973 PNE)