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It was two months ago that Morgan Rogers found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed while the Villa manager scolded him over not reading a through-ball. Back then, with the team failed to win in six, the question was if Rogers' form were a sign or a cause of Villa's wider issues.

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

This weekend, however, the touchline reaction was decidedly more positive. When Rogers curled home his second to reinstate the lead for Villa, Emery discarded his winter coat, spread his arms and roared. The team marched on to a tenth straight victory , having failed to win their opening six matches, now sit just three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Hopefuls?

This is a particularly tough proposition to answer. Past precedent, a general sense of Villa, argues against it. Additionally, they've rarely been wholly dominant in many games, while the positive results have stacked up.

According to Opta, on just two occasions has the side registered an xG more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a side who have strung together 10 in a row, the Villans look strangely fragile – but at the moment the tight outcomes are swinging for them.

The Reliant Strategy

The prevailing tactic seems to be to exchange chances with the opposition and then rely on their talisman to bail them out with a couple of clinical strikes. This occurred at Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and once more against the Red Devils.

Rogers' first goal stemmed from an exquisite effort, bent just inside the upright from the corner of the box. For his second was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he seized on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”

Can It Last?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opponents managed more efforts and more efforts on goal. Villa have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those games.

A reversion to average may well be the biggest rival Villa will encounter in the near future. Rogers, almost certainly, cannot maintain blasting his shots past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

Potential for Growth

Could it be an alternative path whereby, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players may yet rediscover their best form.

• The centre-forward could start scoring again.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the force he resembled in Germany.
• The injured centre-backs are due to return from injury, strengthening a periodically leaky defence.

This could contain the possibility for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, this is a surprise. Few believed the team would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt two months ago, nobody thought the young forward by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a title charge and appearing as a vital player for the national team.

This remarkable period should be enjoyed exactly since it feels so unlikely. As the hero stood in front of the North End when the game ended orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.