VILLA shrugged off their sad UEFA Cup exit and almost snatched a win in this pulsating match.

Villa were under pressure to play well after their 3-0 defeat by Inter Milan and it took a brilliant equaliser by Forest's Franz Carr to foil them.

Forest, with 19- year-old Irish bargain Roy Keane outstanding in midfield, matched Villa for skill and a score-draw was the right result.

Kent Nielsen opened the scoring with Villa's first League goal for more than a month.

David Platt missed a 61st minute penalty before Nielsen struck 60 seconds later.

Following another deadly corner by Gordon Cowans, Platt had a stab at the loose ball before it was scrambled out to Nielsen, who calmly drove it back into the net.

In the 78th minute Forest equalised when Nigel Clough beautifully touched on to send Carr away.

The winger calmly drew Villa goalkeeper Nigel Spink before sweeping it in with his left foot.

Villa should have gone ahead from the penalty spot after Steve Chettle had knocked down lan Olney. But Platt's spot kick was well saved by Mark Crossley.