Aston Villa 2 Forest 2 - Report and pictures

Two goals in the space of as many minutes from Ross McCormack and Rudy Gestede, following Apostolos Vellios' opener for the visitors, looked to have set Roberto Di Matteo's team on the way to a morale-boosting victory.

But they were left stunned when Lansbury fired home from close range, following a fine run from substitute Hildeberto Pereira.

The latter was then shown a second yellow card during the celebrations as Forest finished a man down but having claimed an unlikely point.

In the first meeting of European Cup winners outside the top flight, it was Villa who made the running but somehow failed to win due to a combination of poor finishing, fine goalkeeping and poor fortune.

New man Jonathan Kodjia was twice denied by Forest keeper Vladimir Stojkovic, while Ross McCormack and Jordan Ayew both hit the woodwork.

Forest played most of the game in the their own half and had only two shots on goal but scored them both as Villa were denied what would have been their first win after coming from behind since the FA Cup semi-final victory over Liverpool at Wembley last year.

Kodjia was handed his first start following a big money move from Bristol City but there was no place in the team for deadline day signing Albert Adomah, who missed out through injury.

Aaron Tshibola was also missing, while Mile Jedinak and Gestede were only fit enough for a place on the bench.

Di Matteo was able to call on both Aly Cissokho and Jack Grealish and the latter was one of the early animators as Villa looked for a quick breakthrough. Only a fine challenge by Danny Fox prevented Ayew from going clean through on goal while last-ditch tackles were also required to stop Grealish and McCormack as the hosts dominated possession.

A somewhat cynical, though vital, challenge from Patjim Kasami then prevented Gary Gardner from playing in McCormack. Yet, while Villa were very much on top, their only attempts on goal prior to the half-hour mark were a long range effort from Gardner and an Ayew free-kick, both of which cleared the bar.

A failure to take chances has been a common theme in Villa's early season form and only McCormack will know how he failed to convert a Kodjia cross from two yards out, the ball rebounding off the post. Moments later, Ayew sent another good chance wide from six yards out.

When the hosts finally did get an effort on target, they found Stojkovic equal to it as the keeper denied Kodjia a debut goal, getting down superbly at his near post to clear out the striker's header from Ayew's cross.

McCormack, Ayew and Gardner all fired off target at the beginning of the second period as Villa continued their dominance but they were made to pay for their missed chances, 12 minutes after the restart, as Vellios gave Forest the lead in spectacular fashion.

Gardner gave the ball away as Villa pressed forward and the visitors broke, Vellios smashing past Mark Bunn, who had replaced the injured Gollini at half-time, from 25 yards out.

Villa's response was almost immediate as Ayew crashed a shot off the bar from similar distance. Kodjia was then again denied by Stojkovic, this time the keeper pushing his header from a McCormack free-kick wide of the post.

Ayew shot wide, while Stojkovic also denied Grealish before, finally, with 18 minutes to go, Villa got the goal they deserved.

Ayew showed great persistence to ride challenges on the edge of the box before feeding McCormack, who slotted past Stojkovic from 12 yards out.

Two minutes later, the turnaround was complete as Gestede controlled Ayew's cross before hooking his finish beyond the keeper and into the bottom corner.

It looked for all the world like it would be the winner until, three minutes from time, Villa were hit by another sucker punch. Pereira, on as a substitute, embarked on a run deep into the home half and the ball broke kindly to Lansbury, who finished from eight yards out.

Pereira, who had been booked moments before, was then shown a second yellow for his part in the celebration in another twist to a somewhat surreal afternoon.

Villa (4-2-3-1) Gollini (Bunn HT), De Laet, Elphick, Chester, Cissokho, Gardner (Gestede 65), Westwood, Ayew, McCormack, Grealish, Kodjia Subs not used: Richards, Bacuna, Amavi, Jedinak, Baker.

Forest (4-1-4-1): Stojkovic, Lichaj, Mancienne, Perquis, Fox, Carayol (Dumitru 74), Kasami, Lansbury (c), Cash (Lam 21, Pereira 63), Osborn, Vellios Subs not used: Grant, Mills, Dumitru, Licá, Henderson (gk).