Steve Cooper has secured a number of memorable victories at the City Ground since Nottingham Forest’s return to the top division and his players delivered the game-plan impressively as Emery’s high defensive line was frequently exposed.

Perhaps Cooper’s set-up offered a blueprint on how to damage Villa, who have swept so many teams away this season under their brilliant Basque coach. Villa may have won 12 league home games in a row but on their travels they are still struggling to find the formula to fulfil their ambitions of competing for the Champions League.

After defeats at Newcastle and Liverpool, this was another peculiar afternoon when they appeared vulnerable and lacking a spark. Their determination to play a high line away from home can be a gamble against teams with pace on the counter-attack, and so it proved here.

Villa had smashed 19 goals in their previous six games but this was a rare blank, with the usually rampant double act of England forward Ollie Watkins and record signing Moussa Diaby unusually quiet.

Emiliano Martínez, a World Cup and Golden Glove winner with Argentina, will also not want to reflect on his mistake which led to Forest’s second goal from Orel Mangala.

Emery appeared frustrated for much of the afternoon and this was a reminder that his team are still evolving, despite a remarkable 12 months.

He said: “I am very proud of the players after one year, but I want more. This was a key moment for us if we are really to be top-seven contenders and we lost the opportunity.

“We have to be demanding and it is very hard to accept this result. We want to be in the possibility of getting in those positions but we have to reduce the mistakes we made today.

“We are human and can make mistakes. I am never punishing the mistakes of the players because I want them to be confident and doing everything well. Not just for Emi [Martínez] but everyone. The next match against Fulham is a challenge and, again, a key moment.”

Forest also have an outstanding home record and this victory, in front of owner Evangelos Marinakis, means they have now lost only two of their last 20 matches in the league at the City Ground.

Cooper had been coming under recent scrutiny after a slow start to the campaign but here was further proof that he remains a shrewd operator.

He had many stand-out performers, but summer signings Murillo and Nicolás Domínguez, plus defenders Moussa Niakhaté and Harry Toffolo, were particularly impressive.

Cooper said: “We were committed to the plan and we’ve scored two goals from where we could create chances. Tactically today without the ball we were absolutely brilliant and our defending was excellent. It was a very effective performance.

“This was a really good example of where we are as a club. We’re on a journey and it’s going to take time to get there, but this was a really good day.”

Villa would have moved into the top four with a victory but never looked capable of transforming their dominant performances in front of their own supporter