Villa rocked Forest with an early goal but Graham Taylor's man were happy to come away from the City Ground with a point.

Derek Mountfield, with a little help from Paul McGrath, gave Villa an eighth minute lead, but that was only the cue for Forest to bombard the visitors' goal.

Time after time, Brian Clough's men went desperately close and Steve Hodge and Lee Chapman, in particular, both squandered golden opportunities.

The long-awaited equaliser ended 59 minutes of frustration for Forest, Garry Parker putting them out of their misery with an 18-yard drive

But with Villa firmly on the defensive. Forest failed to make any further impression on the scoreline.

Villa fans 'caged' row

Four hundred Aston Villa fans missed Saturday's game at Nottingham after being "caged like animals" for 90 minutes at the railway station.

Their train broke down and by the time it arrived in Nottingham at 2.55 pm, the visitors' end at the Forest ground -- limited under restrictions following the Hillsborough disaster - was full.

So they were left penned up behind a 6ft wire fence next to the station for the duration of the match.

The compound, 35 yards by 3 yards, had no toilet facilities.

Mrs Diana Lucas, spokesman for British Rail, said: "The train got there too late so we kept the fans in a a compound, which is a bit like a cage and they were sent back. All were given refunds of their £4 fares."

Villa manager Graham Taylor said:

“The Villa fans are to be complimented on their behaviour.

"There were 500 Villa fans locked out of the visitors' area and the Nottingham police decided to keep away another 500 from the train."