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A mere two months ago when Morgan Rogers found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused as Unai Emery admonished him for not reading a through-ball. Back then, with the team went six without a win, the question was if his performances were an indicator or a cause for the side's broader struggles.

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

On Sunday, in contrast, the touchline reaction was entirely much more joyous. As the England international swept in his brace-sealing goal to reinstate Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician ripped off his coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. The Birmingham club were on their way to a tenth straight victory and having failed to win any of their first six fixtures, now sit a mere three points off pace-setters Arsenal.

Are They Legitimate Hopefuls?

It remains a rather hard question to resolve. The historical record, a general sense of Villa, argues against it. Additionally, they have not been entirely convincing this season, even as the positive results have piled up.

Per Opta, in only two games have Villa registered an xG notably superior than the other team. For a side which has just won 10 in a row, they look curiously susceptible – however currently the fine lines are going in their favour.

The Rogers Recipe

The current approach seems to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition and wait for their talisman to rescue them with some crisp finishes. This occurred away to Leeds, it transpired in London, and once more against the Red Devils.

The initial strike stemmed from a superb shot, arced right inside the upright from the edge of the area. For his second proved to be a slight scruffier version of goal number one as he pounced on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

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

Can It Last?

Logic says not. In the recent win, the opposition registered more efforts and more direct attempts. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those matches.

A statistical correction might be the biggest rival the club will encounter in the near future. Rogers, in all likelihood, will not continue to drilling his shots into the net's top corner forever.

Reasons for Optimism

Maybe there exists an alternative path in which, rather than 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.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the performer he showed in Germany.
• The defensive duo are due to return from injury, bolstering a periodically leaky defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the potential of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on one man.

Enjoying the Ride

However, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And certainly two months ago, few could imagine the young forward as the year closed would be leading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a crucial player for the national team.

The current run should be enjoyed exactly since it appears so improbable. As Rogers faced the home supporters when the game ended orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. These spells are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.