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It was 60 days ago when Morgan Rogers was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed while the Villa manager berated him for failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. At that point, as the club failed to win in six, the question was if Rogers' form were an indicator or the source for Villa's broader struggles.

“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”

This weekend, though, the touchline reaction was entirely decidedly more positive. As Rogers drilled in his second to reinstate the lead for Villa, the boss discarded his winter coat, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. Villa marched on to a 10th successive win , having failed to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, now sit just three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Hopefuls?

That’s an exceptionally difficult query to answer. History, a general sense of Villa, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they have not been entirely convincing in many games, while the victories have accumulated.

As per Opta, in only two games has the team registered an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a team who have put together ten consecutive victories, the Villans look weirdly vulnerable – yet currently the margins are swinging for them.

The Winning Formula

The current approach looks like to exchange chances with an opponent and then rely on their talisman to save the day with some crisp finishes. This was the case away to Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and once more versus Manchester United.

The initial strike stemmed from a brilliant finish, curled precisely inside the post from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal was essentially a somewhat messier replica of his first as he pounced on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

“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?

Reason suggests otherwise. During the latest victory, Manchester United registered more shots and more shots on target. Villa have won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those games.

A reversion to average could be the biggest rival the club have to face in the near future. The forward, surely, cannot keep on drilling the football into the net's top corner indefinitely.

Potential for Growth

Could it be a different scenario whereby, rather than results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Important figures might still return to peak condition.

• Ollie Watkins could start finding the net regularly.
• Jadon Sancho may rediscover the force he resembled during his peak.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually regain fitness, fortifying a sometimes shaky defence.

Maybe within that lies the seeds of a title challenge, but they surely cannot keep relying on a single individual.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt back in October, nobody thought the midfielder by the end of the year would be leading a title charge while establishing himself as a crucial Three Lions star.

The current run should be enjoyed precisely because it seems so surreal. When Rogers faced the Villa faithful when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form are rare in football and must be appreciated.