Nottingham Forest returned to The City Ground on Monday evening as The Reds hosted Aston Villa in a Premier League clash under the lights on Trentside.
Steve Cooper made five changes from last week’s defeat at Leicester City, with Emmanuel Dennis and Serge Aurier coming into the starting XI for their league debuts.
Our other changes saw Harry Toffolo, Ryan Yates and Remo Freuler come in from the start with Neco Williams, Lewis O'Brien, Jesse Lingard and Taiwo Awoniyi moving to the bench.
There was an electric atmosphere ahead of kick-off and that energy transferred its way on to the pitch with Forest starting brightly, and the positive start saw The Reds made the breakthrough after 15 minutes.
Dennis was fouled on the right hands side by Tyrone Mings for a free-kick in a dangerous position, Morgan Gibbs-White stepped up to deliver the set-piece onto the head of the unmarked Dennis who guided the ball past Emi Martinez to give Forest the lead.
The goal was the Nigerian's first in the Garibaldi on his first league start for The Reds following a summer move from Watford.
However, seven minutes later, Villa equalised as Ashley Young crashed a powerful right-footed effort past Dean Henderson from the edge of the area to put the sides back on level terms.
With their tails up, the visitors thought they'd added a quickfire second as Ollie Watkins converted Ramsey’s low cross, but the linesman’s flag was up to deny the Villa frontman.
Kouyaté looked to get The Reds back in front ten minutes before the break after connecting with Aurier’s cross from the right, but his tame header was comfortable in the end for Martinez.
Half time: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Aston Villa
Five minutes into the second half Villa threatened as Ramsey broke into the penalty area on the left-hand side, he tried to pick out Watkins on the edge of the six-yard box but Scott McKenna was across on the cover with a perfectly timed challenge to block the ball to safety.
Cooper freshened his side up on the hour mark as Neco Williams replaced Aurier at right-back, the Ivory Coast international completing his first hour in a Forest shirt before making way to warm applause.
Henderson was called into action moments after the change, getting down low to deny Watkins’ header at the back-post following Douglas Luiz’s deep cross.
The Reds put together a neat passage of play on 65 minutes, moving the ball from left to right before Gibbs-White worked some space with a fantastic turn before seeing a dipping effort fall just wide of Martinez’s right-hand.
Steven Gerrard introduced Danny Ings for the visitors, replacing former Liverpool and Barcelona man Philippe Coutinho with 25 minutes remaining, meanwhile Cooper switched goalscorer Dennis for Sam Surridge as The Reds went in search of a winner.
And that breakthrough almost came as Kouyaté took aim with a powerful strike from 25 yards that forced Argentina international Martinez into a strong diving save to his left.
The fixture remained even for the remaining stages as both sides probed for a winner, with architect of The Reds’ goal, Gibbs-White, making way for Lewis O’Brien after another impressive display from the attacking midfielder.
Following three minutes of additional time, referee Anthony Taylor blew for full-time to ensure the points were shared at The City Ground, a result which is enough to move Forest off the foot of the Premier League table.
Full time: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Aston Villa
Nottingham Forest: Dean Henderson, Serge Aurier (Neco Williams 58’), Steve Cook, Scott McKenna, Harry Toffolo, Cheikhou Kouyaté, Remo Freuler, Ryan Yates, Morgan Gibbs-White (Lewis O'Brien 90'), Brennan Johnson, Emmanuel Dennis (Sam Surridge 70’)
Substitutes not used: Wayne Hennessey, Willy Boly, Joe Worrall, Jesse Lingard, Taiwo Awoniyi
Goals: Dennis (15’)
Booked: Aurier (18’), Cook (27’), Yates (82)
Aston Villa: Emi Martinez, Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings, Ashley Young, Douglas Luiz, John McGinn (Leander Dendoncker 77’), Jacob Ramsey (Cameron Archer 80’), Phillipe Coutinho (Danny Ings 65’), Emi Buendia, Ollie Watkins
Substitutes not used: Robin Olsen, Calum Chambers, Marvelous Nakamba, Morgan Sanson, Jan Bednarek
Goals: Young (18’)
Booked: Konsa (44’), McGinn (50’), Ramsey (75’)
Attendance: 29,208 (2,941)
Referee: Anthony Taylor