Nottm Forest 3 Villa 3 - Report and pictures

Winger Scott Sinclair was at his sparkling best for Aston Villa with a hat-trick in their pre-season friendly at Nottingham Forest.

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Sinclair, so often unable to pin down a starting place under boss Tim Sherwood, made a strong claim for inclusion in seven days time.

Villa will kick off their Premier League campaign at new-boys Bournemouth with Sherwood, no doubt, telling them they must defend better.

Sinclair's treble put the claret and blues in control, after Forest striker Dexter Blackstock broke the deadlock inside the first 30 seconds.

There was a glut of late goals what went against the visitors, with goals from captain Henri Lansbury and Kelvin Wilson snaring a draw.

Jose Angel Crespo and Jordan Ayew were handed their first starts for Villa, while latest signing Jordan Veretout was among the substitutes.

Carlos Sanchez was also back into the fold, after an extended break due to his involvement with Colombia in the Copa America.

FOREST: De Vries, Lichaj, Mills, Wilson, Lansbury, Fox, Antonio, Ward, Blackstock, Vaughan, Tesche.

Subs: Riera, Mancienne [for Vaughan 68], Walker [for Blackstock 74], Hamer, Taylor, Paterson [for Ward 79], Hobbs, Burke [for Antonio 74], Pinillos.

VILLA: Bunn, Crespo, Richards, Clark, Amavi, Bacuna, Gueye, Westwood, Sinclair, Ayew, Kozak.

Subs: Watkins, Cole [Gueye HT], Hutton [Crespo 34], Veretout [Kozak HT], Robinson [Bacuna 70], Kinsella [Sinclair 70], Sanchez [Richards HT], Baker [Clark HT].[/breakout]

Striker Rudy Gestede was left out of the match-day squad, having only completed his move from Blackburn Rovers on Friday afternoon.

Villa had barely drew breath before skipper Lansbury's defence-splitting pass released Blackstock, who slotted under goalkeeper Mark Bunn.

Bunn was called into action 10 minutes later, diving to his left to tip away Jamie Ward's half-volley although the linesman had already flagged for an infringement against Blackstock.

Villa battled back and equalised in the 21st minute, when Jordan Amavi's ball from the left hand side was headed home by Sinclair.

But the woodwork had to come to Villa's rescue twice in the second half, firstly when Michail Antonio's header came back off the post and then when Jamie Ward crashed against the crossbar.

However, it was Villa who took the lead on 52 minutes when substitute Joe Cole slipped in Sinclair, who fired into the roof of the net.

The arrival from Manchester City then completed his hat-trick just after the hour mark, with a 25-yard stunner which flew into the top corner.

But Villa were found all at sea when Lansbury twisted and turned on the edge of the box, before slotting past Bunn with a neat finish with 10 minutes to go.

Then Wilson was on hand to level the scores with a simple finish in the final seconds, arriving at the back post to turn the ball in.

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