Aston Villa 1 Preston 1: Lewis Grabban salvages point for hosts after another Sam Johnstone clanger

LEWIS GRABBAN salvaged a point with his first goal for Villa as keeper Sam Johnstone dropped another clanger.

The on-loan Bournemouth striker came off the bench to net a 66th-minute penalty.

Johnstone gifted Fulham their second goal on Saturday when his clearance was hammered straight back past him and into an empty net by Floyd Ayite.

And the on-loan Manchester United keeper was left red-faced again last night after a double blunder allowed Tom Barkhuizen to put Preston ahead.

First he made a complete hash of trying to punch clear Callum Robinson’s inswinging corner.

Then when Barkhuizen hooked the loose ball back over his shoulder into the danger area, Johnstone could only parry the ball into the roof of the net.

A foul by Barkhuizen on sub Keinan Davis gave Grabban the chance to salvage a point from the spot.

Villa were looking to bounce back from the 2-0 setback at Craven Cottage which had halted a run of seven wins.

Victory would have taken them back into the top two.

But they were again missing injured 14-goal top-scorer Albert Adomah and playmaker Jack Grealish — their creative inspiration during that winning run. And it showed.

Steve Bruce’s side were way below their best for much of the game and Preston had enough chances to have sealed all three points. The hosts started well enough and Preston keeper Declan Rudd had to fingertip a 25-yarder from Birkir Bjarnason over the bar.

Then Rudd had to be alert to cling on to a John Terry header from a corner.

Preston were looking to further bolster their hopes of a play-off spot after one defeat in 16 games had powered them to within three points of the top six.

A mistake by Terry almost gift-wrapped striker Robinson a goal.

His misplaced clearance left Robinson with a clear run at the Villa box but he dragged his dipping effort inches wide.

Villa fans were showing their impatience despite their side’s recent promotion surge.

And Scott Hogan brought them to life as Rudd blocked his pile-driver from a narrow angle.

He was the busier of the two keepers in the early stages and again reacted sharply to keep out Alan Hutton’s piledriver.

Preston now were under the cosh — but then came Johnstone’s double cock-up.

Villa were all over the place at the back and Paul Huntington headed wide with the goal gaping from yet another Robinson centre.

Bruce tried to rally his side and went for a double half-time change with Grabban and Davis replacing Robert Snodgrass and Conor Hourihane.

It was the same story at the start of the second half but Johnstone partially atoned for his error by turning Huntington’s header over the bar.

He then kept Villa in the hunt by denying Robinson at point-blank range as the home fans’ frustration grew.

Preston now were in control against an ineffective Villa.

But on 66 minutes they were handed an unexpected lifeline.

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Barkhuizen was adjudged to have pushed Davis in the box and Grabban coolly stepped up to send Rudd the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Grabban could have grabbed all three points for Villa but Rudd clung on to his deflected effort.

And a backpedalling Johnstone was relieved to see Daryl Horgan’s deflected effort dip over the bar.

Villa launched a desperate late assault but Preston held on.