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A mere 60 days ago that Morgan Rogers was standing on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered while the Villa manager scolded him for failing to anticipate a through-ball. During that period, with the team went six without a win, it wasn't clear whether his performances were a symptom or the reason of the team'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 sideline response was far more favourable. As Rogers swept in his second to reclaim the lead for Villa, the boss discarded his jacket, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club were on their way to ten wins in a row , having failed to win their opening six games, are somehow only three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

Are They Legitimate Hopefuls?

This is a particularly tough proposition to answer. History, the traditional standing of this institution, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they've rarely been completely commanding this season, while the victories have piled up.

Per statistical analysis, on just two occasions has the team registered an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a club which has put together a ten-match winning streak, they look strangely fragile – yet right now the margins are falling their way.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy seems to be to engage in a shootout with rivals and wait for their star man to rescue them with some crisp finishes. This occurred against Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and again versus Manchester United.

The initial strike came from a superb shot, curled precisely inside the upright from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slight scruffier version of the opener as he seized on a setup by his strike partner.

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

How Long Can This Continue?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opponents managed more efforts and more shots on target. The team has won each of their last eight by a single goal. They have allowed goals in all but one of those matches.

A reversion to average might be the biggest rival the club have to face over the coming weeks. Their key man, in all likelihood, cannot keep on thrashing the ball past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Maybe there exists an alternative path whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players could still rediscover their best form.

• The main striker may begin to finding the net regularly.
• The attacking talent may rediscover the force he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually regain fitness, strengthening a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

This could contain the possibility of a title challenge, but they surely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, this is a surprise. Few believed Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt two months ago, nobody thought the young forward now would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit and appearing as a crucial England player.

This winning streak should be enjoyed precisely because it feels so unlikely. When the match-winner faced the home supporters when the game ended leading the celebrations, he appeared to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.