Henri Lansbury’s late equaliser salvaged a point for Nottingham Forest as they drew 2-2 with Aston Villa on Sunday.

Villa appeared to be heading for victory after two goals in two minutes turned the game on its head, but Lansbury responded for the visitors three minutes from time.

Apostolos Vellios put Forest ahead with a stunning 25-yard strike, but Villa then took the lead after goals from Ross McCormack and Rudy Gestede.

The spoils were ultimately shared in a game which saw two former European champions face each other outside the top-tier for the very first time.

The hosts enjoyed plenty of possession early on but struggled with their final ball in the opening 30 minutes.

However, Villa went close when Jordan Ayew found new boy Jonathan Kodjia out wide, and his low cross was met by McCormack, but he could only hit the post an angle from barely a yard out.

Moments later, Aly Cissokho sent in a cross, but it hit Ayew more than anything with the forward not anticipating the ball.

Villa’s best chance of the half came moments before the break when Kodjia leapt highest to connect with Ayew’s cross.

Kodjia’s powerful header forced a quality save from Vladimir Stojkovic, who just kept the ball out despite protests from the Villa frontman.

McCormack went close immediately after the break, but his effort curled narrowly wide of the post.

Forest’s opener came from a quick counter, and Vellios picked the ball up from 25 yards out before unleashing a powerful effort which was too strong for Mark Bunn.

With under 20 minutes left, Ayew wriggled into the Forest box before finding McCormack, who slid the ball past Stojkovic.

Barely two minutes later and Villa had the lead as Ayew crossed it in with the ball seemingly heading towards Jack Grealish.

However, Gestede stole in and managed to bring the ball down before acrobatically shooting on the turn.

Villa were denied the win after great work from Hildeberto Pereira, who played a clever one-two before finding Lansbury, whose tidy finish with the outside of his foot sailed past Bunn.