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It was two months ago when Morgan Rogers was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused while his coach admonished him over not reading a pass in behind. During that period, as the club failed to win in six, it wasn't clear if his displays were a sign or the reason of Villa's more general malaise.

“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”

This weekend, however, the touchline reaction was entirely far more favourable. As Rogers swept in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim the lead for Villa, Emery ripped off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. Villa continued to ten wins in a row , despite not winning their opening six games, find themselves just three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.

Is This Team Serious Challengers?

It remains a particularly tough proposition to address. History, a general sense of the club, argues against it. Furthermore, they've rarely been wholly dominant during this run, while the positive results have piled up.

As per the data, on just two occasions have Villa had an xG significantly higher than their opponents. For a side who have put together ten consecutive victories, the Villans seem curiously susceptible – yet currently the tight outcomes are falling their way.

The Rogers Recipe

The current approach appears to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition and then rely on their star man to save the day with some crisp finishes. It happened at Leeds, it transpired in London, and it happened versus United.

The initial strike originated from an exquisite effort, arced precisely inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. For his second acted as a somewhat messier replica of the opener as he pounced on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”

Can It Last?

Logic says not. During the latest victory, the opposition had more shots and more direct attempts. They have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in all but one of those matches.

A reversion to average might be the greatest opponent Villa must confront over the coming weeks. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot keep on blasting the football into the top corner forever.

Potential for Growth

Maybe there exists a different scenario whereby, instead of luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures may yet return to peak condition.

• The centre-forward may begin to scoring again.
• The winger could transform into the performer he was at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to return from injury, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable backline.

This could contain the potential for a sustained push, but they surely cannot keep relying on one man.

Enjoying the Ride

However, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought Aston Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt back in October, nobody thought Rogers now would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while looking like a vital player for the national team.

This remarkable period should be enjoyed precisely because it appears so improbable. As Rogers stood in front of the North End at the final whistle leading the celebrations, he appeared to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.