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A mere eight weeks ago when the Villa attacker was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed while the Villa manager berated him for not reading a penetrating pass. During that period, as Villa failed to win in six, it wasn't clear whether his displays were an indicator or a cause 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, though, the touchline reaction was entirely decidedly more positive. When Rogers curled home his brace-sealing goal to reinstate the lead for Villa, the boss tore off his coat, opened his arms and roared. The team continued to a 10th successive win , despite not winning their initial half-dozen fixtures, now sit only three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Serious Hopefuls?

It remains a rather hard query to answer. History, the traditional standing of Villa, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they have not been completely commanding in many games, while the positive results have stacked up.

Per the data, twice all season have Villa posted an expected goals figure significantly higher than the other team. For a side who have just won ten consecutive victories, they appear weirdly vulnerable – yet currently the margins are falling their way.

The Winning Formula

The prevailing tactic appears to be to trade blows with an opponent before hoping their star man to rescue them with a couple of clinical strikes. It happened away to Leeds, it occurred in London, and once more when facing United.

The initial strike came from a superb shot, curled precisely inside the goal frame from a wide position. For his second acted as a slight scruffier version of goal number one as he pounced on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, Manchester United registered more efforts and more shots on target. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those matches.

A statistical correction might be the greatest opponent Villa must confront over the coming weeks. Rogers, surely, will not continue to blasting the football past despairing goalkeepers forever.

Reasons for Optimism

Could it be a different scenario in which, rather than luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs might still find their top level.

• Ollie Watkins could start adding to his goal tally.
• The attacking talent may rediscover the player he showed in Germany.
• The injured centre-backs are due to come back from the treatment room, strengthening a periodically leaky defence.

This could contain the possibility for a sustained push, but they surely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.

Savoring the Moment

But then, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought Aston Villa would be third at Christmas. And without a doubt back in October, nobody thought Rogers as the year closed would be spearheading a title charge while looking like a crucial player for the national team.

This winning streak should be enjoyed precisely because it appears so improbable. When the hero stood in front of the home supporters when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These spells are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.