Aston Villa drew 1-1 with Preston North End on Tuesday night.
Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce has told the Express and Star that he was impressed with Lewis Grabban’s performance against Preston North End on Tuesday night.
Villa were back in action after Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Fulham, and were hoping to get back to winning ways against Preston as they chase promotion back to the Premier League.
However, Villa fell behind in the first half, as Sam Johnstone flapped at Callum Robinson’s corner, and then bizarrely palmed Tom Barkhuizen’s acrobatic effort into the net to give the Lilywhites the lead.
Preston continued to impress and should have extended their lead, before Barkhuizen was penalised for a soft challenge on Keinan Davis, with Lewis Grabban stepping up to score from the resulting penalty.
Villa attempted to push for a winner but were made to settle for a point, as Steve Bruce’s men missed the chance to go back into the automatic promotion spots.
New signing Grabban saved the day from the penalty spot, bagging his first goal for Villa since joining the club on loan until the end of the season from Bournemouth.
The 30-year-old striker has now hit 13 goals in the Championship this season having starred for Sunderland earlier this term, and will now be looking to make his first start for Villa after opening his account on Tuesday.
After the final whistle, Villa boss Bruce has told the Express and Star that he felt Grabban would provide a spark having come on as a second half substitute, and backed him to be a ‘really decent’ signing for Villa over time.
“He has taken all penalties all of his career. I thought if there was one person who have us a spark, it was Lewis,” said Bruce. “He is going to prove a really decent acquisition for us. Villa Park did not faze him. He enjoyed it. When it was difficult night for us he has come on and done fantastically well,” he added.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
