moved up to fifth in the Championship table with a comfortable 2-0 win over Preston.
First-half goals from James Chester and Robert Snodgrass earned Steve Bruce his first managerial victory at Deepdale and means Villa have won six of their last eight league games.
Preston remain 10th having lost their last three league matches, conceding eight goals in the process.
Villa had a chance to take the lead inside the opening minute but Snodgrass sliced his effort from 12 yards onto the roof of the net after getting round his marker.
And the visitors could have scored again seven minutes later, as Albert Adomah burst down the right before cutting back to Keinan Davis but his strike from 12 yards was well saved by Chris Maxwell.