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A mere eight weeks in the past when Morgan Rogers found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery scolded him over missing a penetrating pass. At that point, with the team endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear whether his performances were a symptom or the source for the side's wider issues.

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

In the latest match, in contrast, the sideline response proved to be decidedly more positive. After the England international swept in his brace-sealing goal to reinstate the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician discarded his jacket, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. The team were on their way to ten wins in a row , having failed to win any of their first six matches, find themselves only three points off the leaders Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Legitimate Title Contenders?

That’s an exceptionally difficult query to address. History, the perceived status of Villa, argues against it. Additionally, they've rarely been completely commanding during this run, despite the fact the wins have piled up.

As per statistical analysis, on just two occasions have Villa registered an xG more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a team who have just won 10 in a row, they look weirdly vulnerable – yet currently the margins are falling their way.

The Rogers Recipe

The current approach seems to be to exchange chances with rivals and wait for their star man to rescue them with some crisp finishes. It happened against Leeds, it occurred in London, and it happened versus United.

Rogers' first goal originated from a brilliant finish, bent precisely inside the upright from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of the opener 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.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Logic says not. Against United, the opponents had a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. The team has secured their last eight victories by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those games.

Regression to the mean could be the greatest opponent they must confront in the near future. Their key man, surely, will not continue to drilling the ball past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.

Reasons for Optimism

Maybe there exists a different scenario where, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs might still find their top level.

• The centre-forward may begin to adding to his goal tally.
• The attacking talent could transform into the player he resembled during his peak.
• The defensive duo are set to return from injury, fortifying a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

This could contain the potential for a sustained push, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

Yet, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And certainly back in October, nobody thought the young forward by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a title charge while establishing himself as a vital Three Lions star.

The current run is to be savoured precisely because it feels so unlikely. As Rogers positioned himself before the North End at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.