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Just two months prior when the Villa attacker was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed while his coach berated him over failing to anticipate a pass in behind. At that point, with the team went six without a win, it wasn't clear if his displays were a symptom or the source of Villa's wider issues.

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

In the latest match, however, the touchline reaction was entirely decidedly more positive. As Rogers drilled in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician discarded his coat, opened his arms and bellowed. Villa were on their way to ten wins in a row , despite not winning their initial half-dozen matches, now sit only three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

Are They Legitimate Hopefuls?

This is an exceptionally difficult query to address. Past precedent, a general sense of this institution, argues against it. Furthermore, they have not been entirely convincing during this run, while the wins have accumulated.

Per statistical analysis, on just two occasions has the side had an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a club which has strung together a ten-match winning streak, they look weirdly vulnerable – yet currently the margins are falling their way.

The Rogers Recipe

The prevailing tactic looks like to exchange chances with rivals and wait for their star man to bail them out with a couple of precise efforts. It happened against Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and it happened against the Red Devils.

Rogers' first goal originated from an exquisite effort, bent just inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.

“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”

Can It Last?

Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, the opponents had more shots and more efforts on goal. Villa have won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in all except one of those matches.

A statistical correction might be the greatest opponent they will encounter as the season progresses. The forward, almost certainly, cannot keep on blasting his shots into the top corner week in, week out.

Reasons for Optimism

Could it be an alternative path where, instead of luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players could still return to peak condition.

• The main striker could start finding the net regularly.
• The attacking talent might become the force he was during his peak.
• The injured centre-backs will eventually return from injury, strengthening a periodically leaky defensive unit.

This could contain the possibility of a title challenge, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.

Enjoying the Ride

Yet, this is a surprise. Few believed the team would sit in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely earlier this season, no one envisioned the young forward as the year closed would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit and appearing as a vital Three Lions star.

This winning streak is to be savoured precisely because it feels so unlikely. When the hero faced the home supporters when the game ended leading the celebrations, he appeared to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.