Aston Villa kicked off pre-season with a hard-fought draw against Walsall at the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Saturday.
The hosts took the lead after 31 minutes when Danny Johnson reacted quickest to lash a loose ball home from a corner.
Villa trailed for only 12 minutes before Ollie Watkins slammed a penalty, which had been won by Jaden Philogene, into the bottom corner.
Head coach Unai Emery handed minutes to 22 players, and Academy youngster Tommi O’Reilly came closest to a winner in the second half, skimming the post in the final ten minutes.
Emery picked a blend of youth and experience for the team’s first pre-season outing, with Jaden Philogene, Tim Iroegbunam and Aaron Ramsey lining up alongside Watkins, Matty Cash and captain for the day Douglas Luiz.
And after coming under some early pressure, the Villans responded by taking the first shot of the match when Emi Buendia fired wide after a driving run from Iroegbunam.
Both sides searched for rhythm in the early stages, trading possession frequently before Villa began to take hold of the game.
A sliding Ramsey was inches away from opening the scoring after 23 minutes when he just failed to connect with Watkins’ pass across the face of goal.
Filip Marschall’s goal had rarely been threatened, but he was beaten on 31 minutes when Johnson reacted quickest to turn home a loose ball following a corner.
The lead lasted 12 minutes before Philogene enticed two defenders into mistimed tackles, bringing the winger down in the box.
Watkins grabbed the ball and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to level the scores.
Calum Chambers, Morgan Sanson and Ezri Konsa appeared for the start of the second half, replacing Josh Feeney, Ramsey and Iroegbunam.
Buendia jinked inside the box and saw a shot deflected wide and Sanson unleashed a fierce drive as Villa looked to take the lead.
Eight more changes at the 65-minute mark saw Emery hand opportunities to a number of youngsters, including Kadan Young, Travis Patterson and Omari Kellyman.
Chances were few and far between until the visitors built up a head of steam in the final ten minutes.
O’Reilly skimmed the post with a low drive before Kellyman and Seb Revan sent shots wide.
Aston Villa: Marschall (Sinisalo 65’), Cash (Bogarde 65’), Carlos (Revan 65’), Feeney (Konsa 45’), Digne (Chrisene 65’), Luiz (Patterson 65’), Iroegbunam (Chambers 45’), A.Ramsey (Sanson 45’), Philogene (Kellyman 65’), Buendia (T.O’Reilly 65’), Watkins (Young 65’).
Unused subs: Wright.