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It was two months prior that the Villa attacker was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery berated him for missing a pass in behind. At that point, as the club failed to win in six, doubts remained if his performances were a symptom or the reason of Villa's wider issues.

“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”

This weekend, though, the touchline reaction was much more joyous. After the in-form star curled home his second strike to restore Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician ripped off his coat, opened his arms and roared. The team marched on to a tenth straight victory , having failed to win their initial half-dozen matches, now sit only three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Title Contenders?

That’s a particularly tough proposition to address. The historical record, the perceived status of Villa, suggests not. Moreover, they have not been entirely convincing this season, while the wins have piled up.

Per Opta, in only two games has the side registered an xG significantly higher than the opposition. For a team which has just won ten consecutive victories, they look curiously susceptible – yet at the moment the margins are swinging for them.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy seems to be to trade blows with the opposition and wait for Rogers to bail them out with a couple of crisp finishes. This occurred at Leeds, it happened in London, and again when facing Manchester United.

His opener came from a brilliant finish, bent precisely inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. For his second was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of the opener as he seized 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. During the latest victory, the opposition managed a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. They have allowed goals in all but one of those games.

A reversion to average may well be the greatest opponent they have to face in the near future. Rogers, in all likelihood, cannot maintain blasting the football into the top corner week in, week out.

Reasons for Optimism

Maybe there exists another reality in which, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs could still return to peak condition.

• The centre-forward could start adding to his goal tally.
• The winger might become the performer he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to regain fitness, fortifying a sometimes shaky backline.

Maybe within that lies the potential for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.

Relishing the Unlikely

Yet, this was unforeseen. Few believed the team would sit in the top three for the holidays. And certainly back in October, few could imagine the midfielder now would be spearheading a title charge while looking like a vital England player.

This remarkable period should be enjoyed exactly since it seems so surreal. As the match-winner stood in front of the Villa faithful when the game ended orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. These runs of form do not happen often and should be relished.