“They are fantastic players and fantastic competitors,” said Unai Emery, as second-placed Villa moved to within three points of Arsenal and 12 ahead of Chelsea in fifth. “Their focus and desire to improve things, their commitment to the club is massive.

“That commitment is huge, the same as the connection with supporters and the work and the standards they set every day.

“They are so professional in everything that they do, not just on the pitch but every day at the training ground and behind the scenes too.”

Allied to the contribution of Watkins and Rogers, which ensured Forest’s mistakes did not go unpunished and prevented Sean Dyche’s men from growing in confidence, John McGinn shone with a second-half double as Villa bounced back from Tuesday’s defeat at the Emirates.

“We won today and are playing well,” Emery continued, doing his best to downplay suggestions that Villa are genuine contenders. “Of course, our target is Europe but it’s one step at a time.”

While Villa peer excitedly towards the future, Forest appeared consumed by an overwhelming sense of dread as they prepared for Tuesday’s pivotal visit to fellow strugglers West Ham United. Although their policy of sitting deep and attempting to strike on the counter initially frustrated Villa, until Watkins and Rogers pounced, it was as risky as it was confusing given Igor Jesus’s inability to retain possession when his colleagues made a clearance.

On this evidence, Chris Wood’s return from injury cannot come soon enough, although the New Zealander is still yet to receive an exact recovery date. Coupled with some lackadaisical defending, as Forest’s rearguard eventually wilted under the pressure their colleagues invited, it proved a recipe for disaster as the visitors slipped to a fourth straight league defeat despite Morgan Gibbs-White’s effort, sandwiched in between McGinn’s two goals, briefly threatening an unlikely comeback.