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It was two months ago when Morgan Rogers found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused as his coach berated him over not reading a penetrating pass. At that point, as the club failed to win in six, doubts remained whether his performances were a symptom or a cause of the team's more general malaise.

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

In the latest match, in contrast, the manager's outburst was entirely far more favourable. After the England international drilled in his brace-sealing goal to reinstate the lead for Villa, the boss discarded his coat, threw his arms wide and roared. The Birmingham club continued to a tenth straight victory , having failed to win their initial half-dozen games, now sit just three points off pace-setters Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Legitimate Title Contenders?

This is a rather hard query to resolve. The historical record, a general sense of the club, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they've rarely been entirely convincing in many games, even as the positive results have stacked up.

Per statistical analysis, in only two games have Villa had an xG notably superior than their opponents. For a team that have strung together ten consecutive victories, they appear curiously susceptible – yet right now the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Winning Formula

The current approach appears to be to trade blows with the opposition and wait for their talisman to save the day with a couple of crisp finishes. It happened against Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and once more against the Red Devils.

Rogers' first goal stemmed from a brilliant finish, arced right inside the upright from a wide position. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he pounced on a pass from Watkins.

“Perhaps Rogers’ right foot is becoming like Arjen Robben’s left: just because you know he’s going to whip the ball into the top corner doesn’t mean you can stop him.”

Can It Last?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opponents managed a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. They have won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in all but one of those games.

A statistical correction could be the greatest opponent Villa will encounter as the season progresses. The forward, surely, cannot keep on blasting the ball past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.

Reasons for Optimism

Maybe there exists a different scenario whereby, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures may yet rediscover their best form.

• The centre-forward could start scoring again.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the player he showed during his peak.
• The defensive duo are due to regain fitness, fortifying a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the seeds of a genuine bid, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on one man.

Enjoying the Ride

But then, nobody expected this. Few believed Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt back in October, few could imagine the midfielder now would be spearheading a title charge while establishing himself as a crucial Three Lions star.

This remarkable period must be cherished precisely because it seems so surreal. As Rogers faced the Villa faithful after the match orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These spells are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.