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Aston Villa 2-2 Nottingham Forest: Roberto Di Matteo and Philippe Montanier reaction

Roberto Di Matteo at Villa Park
Image: Roberto Di Matteo said his Villa side must learn after more dropped points

Aston Villa manager Roberto Di Matteo vowed his side will recover after they drew 2-2 with Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

Di Matteo's side fell 10 points behind Sky Bet Championship leaders Huddersfield after being held by Nottingham Forest despite dominating the game at Villa Park.

Two goals in two minutes from Ross McCormack and Rudy Gestede put them 2-1 ahead with 16 minutes remaining, only for Henri Lansbury to rescue a draw for the visitors.

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Highlights of Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest from the Sky Bet Championship

Forest had just three shots to Villa's 26, but netted twice as Apostolos Vellios opened the scoring, before Lansbury equalised with three minutes left and Hildeberto Pereira was dismissed for celebrating his side's equaliser.

Aston Villa's Ross McCormack celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the Sky Bet Championship match against Nottingham Forest at Villa Park
Image: Aston Villa's Ross McCormack found the net in the second half

Di Matteo said: "We need to win these games, it's as simple as that. That's why I was shaking my head at the end of the game, it's really difficult to take.

"I'm frustrated by the result because the performance was very good. We dominated the whole game. We hit the post, the bar, the 'keeper makes a couple of world (class) saves but we are moving in the right direction.

"With time we will learn and improve in these situations where we will be able to finish games off. Right now we have made a lot of changes in the transfer window. It's really frustrating but the performance was really good."

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Hildeberto Pereira set up Henri Lansbury’s late equaliser against Aston Villa, but the Portuguese was sent off for his celebrations

Vellios scored his first Forest goal - and first in England since 2011 - when he netted from 25 yards against the run of play in the second half.

McCormack and substitute Gestede then turned the game for Villa only for Lansbury's fine finish to steal a point for Forest.

Henri Lansbury of Nottingham Forest celebrates scoring to make it 2-2 during the Sky Bet Championship match at Aston Villa
Image: Henri Lansbury celebrates his late equaliser against Aston Villa

It was Forest's first away point in the league this season and head coach Philippe Montanier admitted Villa deserved to win.

"It was a tough game for us because Villa started very strongly," he said. "It was better from us in the end of the first half but we conceded a lot of opportunities to score. Villa deserved the victory but sometimes you can win a point when you are a little lucky. We showed good character."

Forest substitute Pereira, who was already on a yellow card, was dismissed for apparently celebrating with the Forest fans in the aftermath of Lansbury's leveller and Montanier said he would fine the midfielder if he deserved it.

He added: "He knows the rules, it's not to jump into the crowd so we have to check on the video if he did. If he did then it's a big fine for him. If you are near the crowd it's different to jumping."

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