Steve Bruce hails Aston Villa super-sub Lewis Grabban following Preston draw

The on loan Bournemouth star fired home his first goal for the club, after fellow substitute Keinan Davis had been fouled by Tom Barkhuizen, to prevent Villa from falling to successive Championship defeats.

And Bruce, who also claimed the state of the Villa Park pitch made life tricky for his team, said: “He has taken all penalties all of his career. I thought if there was one person who have us a spark, it was Lewis.

“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.”

Barkhuizen had earlier put Preston ahead, following an error by Villa keeper Sam Johnstone.

But the Lilywhites winger then blotted his evening by giving away the spot-kick at a time when the hosts, who were again without influential duo Albert Adomah and Jack Grealish, were struggling to find a way back into the game.

Bruce said: “At the time I thought it looked a soft decision but having seen it on the video it is a ridiculous challenge.

“He has barged into Keinan and the referee and the linesman have got it right.”

He continued: “We found it difficult. They have lost one in 16 games and you can see why they are at the top end of the league.

“They have a very, very, very good Championship team. In this league they are a threat for anyone.

“In the second half, it might not have been fair, but we could have won at the end.

“All of a sudden we have a very difficult Villa Park pitch. I have never seen it the way it is at the moment. We have gone a little more direct and got something out of the game, which is vitally important at this stage.

“At the top end of the pitch we have found it difficult.”