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A mere two months ago when Morgan Rogers stood on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed while his coach scolded him over missing a pass in behind. During that period, as Villa went six without a win, the question was whether his displays were a symptom or the reason of the team's broader struggles.

“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”

On Sunday, though, the touchline reaction was much more joyous. As Rogers swept in his brace-sealing goal to restore his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician ripped off his winter coat, opened his arms and roared. The team marched on to ten wins in a row and after failing to win their initial half-dozen games, find themselves only three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Genuine Hopefuls?

This is a rather hard proposition to answer. History, a general sense of the club, argues against it. Moreover, they have not been wholly dominant this season, despite the fact the positive results have piled up.

According to Opta, twice all season has the side had an xG notably superior than their opponents. For a side which has put together a ten-match winning streak, they seem strangely fragile – yet right now the tight outcomes are swinging for them.

The Reliant Strategy

The current approach appears to be to exchange chances with rivals and then rely on their talisman to rescue them with two crisp finishes. This occurred away to Leeds, it happened in London, and again against United.

The initial strike stemmed from a superb shot, arced precisely inside the upright from a wide position. For his second proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he pounced on a setup by his strike partner.

“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”

Can It Last?

Logic says not. During the latest victory, the opposition managed more efforts and more direct attempts. They have secured their last eight victories by just one goal. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those fixtures.

Regression to the mean could be the greatest opponent they will encounter over the coming weeks. Their key man, almost certainly, will not continue to blasting the football into the top corner indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Perhaps there is an alternative path whereby, rather than luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs might still find their top level.

• Ollie Watkins may begin to scoring again.
• The winger could transform into the performer he showed during his peak.
• The injured centre-backs will eventually regain fitness, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the seeds for a sustained push, but they surely cannot keep relying on one man.

Savoring the Moment

However, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought Villa would be third at Christmas. And without a doubt two months ago, few could imagine Rogers by the end of the year would be spearheading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a crucial England player.

The current run must be cherished precisely because it feels so unlikely. As Rogers positioned himself before the home supporters at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.