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It was 60 days prior when Morgan Rogers stood on the Sunderland turf, looking confused as the Villa manager admonished him over not reading a pass in behind. Back then, as the club went six without a win, it wasn't clear whether Rogers' form were a symptom or the reason for the team's more general malaise.

“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”

In the latest match, however, the touchline reaction was entirely decidedly more positive. After the in-form star swept in his second to reinstate the lead for Villa, the boss discarded his coat, opened his arms and bellowed. The team continued to a tenth straight victory and despite not winning their opening six games, find themselves a mere three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Legitimate Hopefuls?

It remains a particularly tough proposition to address. History, a general sense of the club, argues against it. Furthermore, their performances haven't been completely commanding during this run, even as the wins have accumulated.

According to Opta, in only two games has the side had an xG more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a team who have put together ten consecutive victories, the Villans look curiously susceptible – however at the moment the fine lines are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

The prevailing tactic seems to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent and wait for their talisman to save the day with two clinical strikes. This occurred against Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and once more versus United.

The initial strike stemmed from a superb shot, arced just inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. For his second acted as a slightly less clean iteration of the opener as he pounced 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. During the latest victory, the opponents registered a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those matches.

A statistical correction could be the biggest rival Villa will encounter in the near future. Rogers, almost certainly, cannot keep on thrashing the football into the net's top corner indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Could it be a different scenario whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players might still return to peak condition.

• The centre-forward might resume finding the net regularly.
• The attacking talent could transform into the force he was during his peak.
• The defensive duo are set to come back from the treatment room, bolstering a sometimes shaky defence.

Maybe within that lies the possibility of a genuine bid, but they surely cannot keep relying on one man.

Savoring the Moment

However, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Villa would sit third at Christmas. And most definitely earlier this season, no one envisioned the young forward as the year closed would be spearheading a hunt for the title while looking like an essential player for the national team.

This winning streak is to be savoured precisely because it appears so improbable. As Rogers faced the home supporters after the match leading the celebrations, he seemed to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.