Albion fans clapped and cheered their side off at Villa Park – as they picked up a rare but deserved point at this unhappiest of hunting grounds.

Recalled Tariq Lamptey fired home a late equaliser as they showed a lot of backbone and spirit and no little attacking quality at times.

Simon Adingra had them in front but a VAR-assisted Ollie Watkins penalty and his own assist for the dangerous Morgan Rogers appeared to have set up a familiar story here for the Seagulls.

Albion made four personnel changes to the XI, with the busy schedule possibly a factor.

Lamptey and Igor came into full-back berths, Adingra took over from Kaoru Mitoma on the left and Yasin Ayari was in midfield.

Villa were missing the suspended Jhon Duran and Matty Cash while Leon Bailey replaced Amadou Onana.

The game had only been in progress for a few seconds when Joao Pedro was felled by Boubacar Kamara heading the back of his head.

Both needed attention but it was the Albion man who came off worst and there was a lengthy stoppage before he resumed with bandages wrapped around his head.

But the visitors made an assured start and went ahead in the 12th minute.

Lewis Dunk went long, Joao Pedro competed for the ball and it broke to Adingra, who took a touch and then blasted it past Emiliano Martinez right-footed.

Dunk had to concede a couple of corners as Villa threatened but there was some irritation now among home fans.

Then Dunk and Igor had to do some good defending to deny Watkins close in after Rogers allowed a lot of room to get away down the left.

Albion countered and might have doubled the advantage. Emi Martinez made a superb fingertip save as Enciso let fly from outside the box and, from the corner, Jan Paul van Hecke headed wide when he should maybe have done better.

Villa, though drew level after a tale of two penalty appeals.

VAR Stuart Attwell agreed with Craig Pawson’s decision that van Hecke had got a touch on the ball as he slid in on Rogers.

Bart Verbruggen made a stunning save from the resulting corner as Lucas Digne’s shot flicked off Enciso but Villa were more interested in Rogers lying on the turf after contact with Joao Pedro in the goalmouth.

After a lengthy check at the monitor, and with Martinez looking to have his say, Pawson spotted what he deemed a clear and obvious error and Watkins guided home the spot kick.

The same striker headed over from a corner during 12 minutes of added time.

Villa took little time going ahead attacking the Holte End.

Verbruggen was unable to deal with a corner. Albion sort of got the ball away but Watkins played it back in and Rogers was unmarked as he drilled a low shot across the keeper.

Struggling to keep a foothold in the context, Albion sent on Yankuba Minteh, Georginio Rutter and Mitoma for Brajan Gruda, Enciso and Adingra just before the hour.

But Villa looked the more dangerous side and Watkins sent a header too close to Verbruggen.

A chance suddenly opened up for Joao Pedro midway through the second half as Villa were caught out in possession.

But Tyrone Mings got across and, after delaying a touch, the Albion man fired off target.

Martinez managed a smile after he fumbled, then grabbed a deflected Carlos Baleba shot. Then Minteh was crowded out in the box after a good run and one wondered whether there could yet be some reward for Albion.

There was. They drew level in the 82nd minute through Lamptey.

It was a cleanly struck effort from the edge of the box after a move involving Joao Pedro and Mitoma in its closing stages and his low shot wrong-footed Martinez.

It was frantic from there and Albion might have won it - or lost it when Watkins fired over at the death.

Aston Villa: Martinez; Konsa, Carlos, Torres (Mings 20), Digne (Maatsen 84); Kamara (Onana 84), Tielemans (Barkley 84); Bailey (Ramsey 78), McGinn, Rogers; Watkins. Subs: Olsen, Buendia, Philogene, Nedeljkovic.

Goals: Watkins pen 36, Rogers 47.

Yellow card: Rogers, Mings.

Albion: Verbruggen; Lamptey, Van Hecke, Dunk, Igor; Ayari (O’Riley 69), Baleba (Moder 87); Gruda (Minteh 58), Enciso (Rutter 58), Adingra (Mitoma 58); Joao Pedro. Subs: Steele, March, Veltman, McConville.

Goal: Adingra 12, Lamptey 82.

Yellow card: Hurzeler, Ayari, Baleba, Igor.

Referee: Craig Pawson.