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It was two months in the past that Morgan Rogers was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed as his coach berated him for missing a through-ball. Back then, with the team went six without a win, the question was if his performances were an indicator or the reason for the side's more general malaise.

“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”

In the latest match, however, the touchline reaction proved to be decidedly more positive. As Rogers swept in his second to reclaim the lead for Villa, the boss tore off his jacket, opened his arms and bellowed. The team were on their way to a tenth straight victory , despite not winning their opening six matches, are somehow a mere three points behind the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Legitimate Hopefuls?

That’s a particularly tough query to resolve. The historical record, a general sense of Villa, suggests not. Moreover, they have not been wholly dominant during this run, despite the fact the positive results have accumulated.

As per Opta, twice all season has the team registered an expected goals figure significantly higher than the opposition. For a club that have strung together a ten-match winning streak, they appear weirdly vulnerable – yet currently the margins are falling their way.

The Winning Formula

Their recent policy looks like to exchange chances with rivals and wait for Rogers to bail them out with some precise efforts. It happened against Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and again when facing United.

His opener originated from an exquisite effort, arced just inside the post from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of the opener as he pounced on a setup by his strike partner.

“Perhaps Rogers’ right foot is becoming like Arjen Robben’s left: just because you know he’s going to whip the ball into the top corner doesn’t mean you can stop him.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Logic says not. During the latest victory, the opposition registered more efforts and more direct attempts. Villa have secured their last eight victories by just one goal. They have allowed goals in all but one of those fixtures.

A statistical correction might be the most significant challenge the club have to face over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, cannot maintain blasting his shots into the net's top corner week in, week out.

Potential for Growth

Could it be a different scenario where, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs may yet find their top level.

• Ollie Watkins may begin to adding to his goal tally.
• The attacking talent could transform into the player he was during his peak.
• The defensive duo are set to return from injury, bolstering a periodically leaky defence.

Maybe within that lies the possibility of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on one man.

Relishing the Unlikely

But then, this is a surprise. Nobody thought the team would occupy third at Christmas. And without a doubt back in October, no one envisioned the midfielder now would be spearheading a hunt for the title while looking like a crucial player for the national team.

The current run must be cherished exactly since it seems so surreal. As the match-winner faced the Villa faithful at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.