Aston Villa preturned to the Championship play-off places as first-half goals from James Chester and Robert Snodgrass extended their impressive record to one league defeat in 12.
Weakened Preston were without five defenders including suspended captain Paul Huntington and held out for only 12 minutes when Snodgrass, on loan from West Ham, found the head of Wales international James Chester with an outswinging corner.
Snodgrass then secured the visitor’s rise to rise to fifth place when he buried a low cross from Josh Onomah, the winger having robbed Ben Pearson by the touchline to leave North End’s stand-in skipper holding his head in his hands.