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A mere two months in the past that Morgan Rogers found himself on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered while the Villa manager admonished him for missing a penetrating pass. Back then, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, the question was whether Rogers' form were a sign or the reason of the side's broader struggles.

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

On Sunday, however, the manager's outburst proved to be much more joyous. As the in-form star swept in his second to reclaim Villa's lead, the boss discarded his winter coat, threw his arms wide and roared. Villa continued to a 10th successive win , having failed to win any of their first six games, now sit only three points behind the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Serious Hopefuls?

That’s a particularly tough proposition to answer. The historical record, the traditional standing of Villa, argues against it. Furthermore, their performances haven't been entirely convincing this season, while the positive results have piled up.

According to statistical analysis, on just two occasions has the team registered an xG notably superior than the other team. For a side who have put together ten consecutive victories, the Villans look curiously susceptible – yet at the moment the tight outcomes are swinging for them.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy appears to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition before hoping their star man to save the day with some precise efforts. This was the case against Leeds, it transpired in London, and once more versus Manchester United.

His opener stemmed from a superb shot, arced right inside the upright from a wide position. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of the opener 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.”

Can It Last?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opposition had a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. The team has won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in all but one of those games.

Regression to the mean might be the biggest rival the club must confront over the coming weeks. Rogers, almost certainly, cannot keep on drilling his shots into the net's top corner week in, week out.

A Case for Belief

Perhaps there is a different scenario whereby, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs may yet find their top level.

• The main striker might resume adding to his goal tally.
• The winger might become the player he resembled in Germany.
• The defensive duo will eventually come back from the treatment room, bolstering a sometimes shaky defence.

Maybe within that lies the seeds for a sustained push, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.

Enjoying the Ride

But then, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable the team would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt back in October, no one envisioned the midfielder as the year closed would be spearheading a title charge while looking like a crucial England player.

This remarkable period is to be savoured precisely because it appears so improbable. When Rogers faced the Villa faithful when the game ended orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are rare in football and should be relished.