Aston Villa captain Andy Townsend was sensationally sent after three minutes after giving inside 67th minute lead.

It looked as though the Irish midfielders goal would give Villa a deserved win until Des Lyttle came up with a surprise equaliser three minutes from the end.

In an amazing finish fullback Lyttle scored with the final touch following are Colin Cooper freekick and that left Villa fans seething over the red card fate of Townsend.

Forest, who extended their unbeaten premiership run to 20 matches, had looked dead and buried when Townsend, Villa’s outstanding performer on the day, landed a superb strike to reward them for virtually non stop pressure.

Townsend drove home a splendid shot after Dwight Yorke cleverly backheeled pass in behind the forest defence, but before the celebrations ended he was taking a long walk back to the dressing room.

Booked in the first half for a foul on Ian Woan he bought card waving referee Paul Danson into action again shortly after his goal. A clash with forest Norwegian midfielder Lars Bohinen looked fierce but hardly worthy of a second booking.

Villa’s anguish was doubled when Forest stole an equaliser, Lyttle creeping in on the blindside to apply the final touch for an incredible finish to a game that had been at one way bore fest for much of the time.

Referee Danson handed out six yellow cards on top of Townsend red.