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It was 60 days in the past when Morgan Rogers stood on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered while his coach admonished him for missing a penetrating pass. Back then, with the team failed to win in six, doubts remained whether his displays were an indicator or the reason of the team's broader struggles.

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

This weekend, in contrast, the sideline response was entirely far more favourable. As Rogers curled home his second strike to restore Villa's lead, Emery ripped off his winter coat, opened his arms and bellowed. The team marched on to a tenth straight victory and having failed to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, are somehow a mere three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Serious Hopefuls?

It remains an exceptionally difficult query to answer. Past precedent, a general sense of this institution, indicates otherwise. Additionally, their performances haven't been wholly dominant during this run, while the positive results have accumulated.

As per the data, twice all season has the side registered an expected goals figure significantly higher than the other team. For a team who have strung together a ten-match winning streak, they seem weirdly vulnerable – but at the moment the tight outcomes are falling their way.

The Winning Formula

The current approach appears to be to trade blows with an opponent and wait for their star man to rescue them with two crisp finishes. This occurred against Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and again versus the Red Devils.

Rogers' first goal came from a superb shot, curled right inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he pounced on a pass from Watkins.

“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.”

Is It Sustainable?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opponents had more shots and more direct attempts. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all but one of those matches.

A statistical correction may well be the greatest opponent they must confront over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, cannot maintain drilling the football into the top corner indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Could it be another reality in which, rather than luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs might still rediscover their best form.

• Ollie Watkins may begin to adding to his goal tally.
• The attacking talent might become the force he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• The defensive duo are due to come back from the treatment room, fortifying a sometimes shaky backline.

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

Savoring the Moment

But then, this was unforeseen. Few believed the team would be in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely two months ago, nobody thought Rogers now would be spearheading a title charge while establishing himself as a crucial Three Lions star.

The current run must be cherished precisely because it appears so improbable. When Rogers positioned himself before the North End at the final whistle leading the celebrations, he seemed to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.