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A mere two months ago that Morgan Rogers stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused while the Villa manager scolded him over failing to anticipate a through-ball. Back then, as Villa went six without a win, doubts remained if his displays were a symptom or a cause for the side'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, however, the touchline reaction was entirely far more favourable. When the in-form star drilled in his second strike to reclaim his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician discarded his coat, spread his arms and roared. The Birmingham club continued to ten wins in a row and despite not winning their initial half-dozen matches, find themselves just three points off the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Legitimate Hopefuls?

This is an exceptionally difficult question to resolve. The historical record, the perceived status of this institution, argues against it. Additionally, they've rarely been wholly dominant in many games, while the victories have piled up.

Per statistical analysis, on just two occasions have Villa posted an expected goals figure significantly higher than their opponents. For a team who have strung together a ten-match winning streak, they seem weirdly vulnerable – however at the moment the fine lines are falling their way.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy looks like to exchange chances with rivals before hoping Rogers to save the day with two crisp finishes. This was the case at Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and again versus Manchester United.

The initial strike originated from an exquisite effort, bent just inside the post from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of his first capitalizing 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?

Logic says not. During the latest victory, the opposition registered more efforts and more efforts on goal. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. They have allowed goals in all except one of those fixtures.

A reversion to average may well be the greatest opponent the club must confront in the near future. The forward, surely, cannot maintain blasting the football into the top corner forever.

A Case for Belief

Maybe there exists an alternative path where, instead of luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs may yet return to peak condition.

• Ollie Watkins might resume scoring again.
• The attacking talent might become the performer he was at Borussia Dortmund.
• The injured centre-backs are set to return from injury, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the potential of a genuine bid, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.

Enjoying the Ride

Yet, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And certainly two months ago, nobody thought Rogers now would be leading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as an essential player for the national team.

This winning streak must be cherished exactly since it seems so surreal. When Rogers positioned himself before the Villa faithful after the match leading the celebrations, he appeared to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These runs of form are rare in football and must be appreciated.