Marcus Rashford has declared he is “playing better” since joining Aston Villa, following a match-winning performance that propelled his new team into the FA Cup semi-finals with a commanding 3-0 victory over Preston North End on Sunday. The England international, on loan from Manchester United, ended a four-month goal drought with a clinical brace in the second half, marking his first strikes for Villa and silencing doubters after a challenging spell at Old Trafford.
The quarter-final clash at Deepdale saw Villa assert their Premier League pedigree against a resilient Preston side, the last remaining Championship outfit in the competition. Rashford broke the deadlock in the 58th minute, coolly slotting home a precise low cross from Lucas Digne. Five minutes later, he displayed nerves of steel to convert a penalty—sending Preston goalkeeper David Cornell the wrong way—after Morgan Rogers was fouled in the box. Jacob Ramsey sealed the rout in the 71st minute with a powerful finish, ensuring Villa’s first FA Cup semi-final berth since 2015.
Speaking to BBC Sport after the match, Rashford expressed his delight at rediscovering his scoring touch. “It’s a great feeling. I feel like I’ve been getting fitter and playing better football since I’ve been here,” the 27-year-old said. “It’s always nice for a forward to get a goal, so hopefully it continues. I missed a lot of football before joining up with them. My body feels good, and I’m enjoying my football for now.”
Rashford’s move to Villa in February, following a fallout with Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, has sparked a noticeable resurgence. Despite a goalless run in his first nine appearances for Unai Emery’s side, his four assists prior to Sunday hinted at a growing influence. His performance against Preston—where he created three chances, took five shots, and boasted a 93% passing accuracy—earned him the man-of-the-match plaudits and underscored his determination to prove his worth.
Villa boss Unai Emery praised Rashford’s progress but hinted at more to come. “His commitment to work, to adapt quickly, is very important, and he’s doing it,” Emery said. “To feel comfortable, playing at his best level, there is still work, but today he did one step forward—getting confident, scoring goals.” When pressed on whether Rashford’s loan could become permanent, with a reported £40 million option on the table, Emery remained coy: “Not yet the right time to discuss.”
For Villa, the victory keeps alive their dream of lifting the FA Cup for the first time since 1957. They now face Crystal Palace in the semi-finals at Wembley on the weekend of April 26-27, with a potential final against either Manchester City or Nottingham Forest looming. The win also extends Villa’s unbeaten run to five matches across all competitions, bolstering their ambitions in the Premier League and Champions League, where they face Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals next month.
Preston, meanwhile, saw their spirited cup run—their best since 1966—end in disappointment. Manager Paul Heckingbottom lamented a pivotal five-minute spell that “took the game away from us,” despite a first half where his side frustrated Villa and squandered a golden chance through Stefan Thordarson. “We battled hard, but their quality showed in the end,” he admitted.