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A mere two months prior that the Villa attacker found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused as his coach berated him over missing a penetrating pass. At that point, as the club went six without a win, the question was whether his displays were a sign or a cause for Villa'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 decidedly more positive. When the England international curled home his second strike to reclaim Villa's lead, the boss ripped off his jacket, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. Villa marched on to ten wins in a row and after failing to win their opening six games, are somehow a mere three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.

Are They Serious Title Contenders?

It remains a particularly tough query to answer. Past precedent, the traditional standing of Villa, argues against it. Moreover, they have not been wholly dominant in many games, while the positive results have stacked up.

According to the data, on just two occasions have Villa posted an xG significantly higher than the opposition. For a team that have just won ten consecutive victories, Villa look weirdly vulnerable – yet right now the tight outcomes are swinging for them.

The Reliant Strategy

The current approach looks like to trade blows with an opponent and wait for their talisman to save the day with some crisp finishes. This occurred at Leeds, it occurred in London, and it happened against Manchester United.

The initial strike stemmed 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 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.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, the opponents managed more efforts and more efforts on goal. The team has secured their last eight victories by just one goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those fixtures.

Regression to the mean may well be the most significant challenge they will encounter as the season progresses. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot maintain blasting his shots into the net's top corner week in, week out.

A Case for Belief

Perhaps there is another reality whereby, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs might still find their top level.

• The centre-forward could start adding to his goal tally.
• The attacking talent may rediscover the player he showed during his peak.
• The defensive duo are set to return from injury, fortifying a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Perhaps there is in that the potential for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And certainly back in October, no one envisioned Rogers now would be leading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a crucial player for the national team.

The current run should be enjoyed precisely because it appears so improbable. As the hero positioned himself before the Villa faithful at the final whistle leading the celebrations, he appeared to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.