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It was 60 days ago when Morgan Rogers was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused while Unai Emery admonished him for not reading a penetrating pass. At that point, with the team endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained if Rogers' form were an indicator or the source of the team's broader struggles.

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

In the latest match, however, the touchline reaction proved to be decidedly more positive. After the in-form star swept in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim Villa's lead, the boss discarded his winter coat, spread his arms and bellowed. Villa continued to a 10th successive win , having failed to win any of their first six games, now sit only three points off pace-setters Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Genuine Title Contenders?

That’s a particularly tough proposition to address. Past precedent, a general sense of Villa, argues against it. Moreover, they've rarely been wholly dominant during this run, even as the positive results have piled up.

Per statistical analysis, in only two games has the side posted an xG notably superior than the opposition. For a side that have just won ten consecutive victories, the Villans look weirdly vulnerable – yet currently the margins are going in their favour.

The Rogers Recipe

The current approach seems to be to trade blows with the opposition before hoping their talisman to bail them out with a couple of clinical strikes. It happened at Leeds, it happened in London, and once more when facing United.

The initial strike originated from an exquisite effort, arced right inside the post from the corner of the box. For his second proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he seized 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.”

Is It Sustainable?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opposition managed more efforts and more efforts on goal. They have secured their last eight victories by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all except one of those games.

A statistical correction could be the most significant challenge Villa will encounter in the near future. The forward, surely, will not continue to thrashing the ball into the net's top corner forever.

Potential for Growth

Perhaps there is another reality where, instead of luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs may yet rediscover their best form.

• Ollie Watkins could start finding the net regularly.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the performer he showed during his peak.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to return from injury, strengthening a periodically leaky backline.

Maybe within that lies the potential for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

But then, this is a surprise. Few believed Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt earlier this season, nobody thought the midfielder as the year closed would be leading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a crucial England player.

This winning streak must be cherished exactly since it appears so improbable. When Rogers faced the home supporters after the match orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.