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It was eight weeks ago when the Villa attacker found himself on the Sunderland turf, looking confused while the Villa manager scolded him over failing to anticipate a pass in behind. Back then, as the club failed to win in six, doubts remained whether Rogers' form were a sign or the reason for the team's broader struggles.

“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 was entirely decidedly more positive. When the England international curled home his second to reinstate his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician tore off his jacket, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. The team continued to ten wins in a row and despite not winning any of their first six matches, find themselves only three points off the leaders Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Title Contenders?

This is an exceptionally difficult proposition to address. The historical record, a general sense of the club, argues against it. Furthermore, their performances haven't been completely commanding during this run, despite the fact the positive results have accumulated.

Per the data, twice all season have Villa had an expected goals figure significantly higher than the other team. For a club who have just won 10 in a row, the Villans seem weirdly vulnerable – but at the moment the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy seems to be to trade blows with rivals and wait for their talisman to save the day with a couple of precise efforts. This occurred at Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and it happened versus the Red Devils.

His opener originated from a superb shot, bent precisely inside the upright 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 pass from Watkins.

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

How Long Can This Continue?

Common sense dictates no. 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 nearly all of those matches.

A statistical correction might be the biggest rival the club will encounter over the coming weeks. Their key man, surely, cannot keep on drilling the ball into the top corner indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Maybe there exists another reality whereby, rather than luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players might still return to peak condition.

• The centre-forward may begin to finding the net regularly.
• The winger may rediscover the player he was in Germany.
• The injured centre-backs will eventually return from injury, fortifying a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Perhaps there is in that the seeds of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, this was unforeseen. Few believed Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And certainly back in October, no one envisioned the midfielder now would be spearheading a championship pursuit and appearing as a vital Three Lions star.

This winning streak is to be savoured exactly since it appears so improbable. As Rogers faced the home supporters when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are rare in football and should be relished.