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It was two months prior that the young forward found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed as his coach berated him for failing to anticipate a pass in behind. Back then, as the club went six without a win, the question was whether his displays were an indicator or a cause for the side's more general malaise.

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

In the latest match, though, the manager's outburst was entirely much more joyous. When the England international curled home his second strike to reinstate the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician ripped off his winter coat, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. The team marched on to ten wins in a row and having failed to win their initial half-dozen matches, find themselves a mere three points behind the leaders Arsenal.

Is This Team Genuine Challengers?

This is an exceptionally difficult question to address. The historical record, the perceived status of the club, indicates otherwise. Moreover, their performances haven't been completely commanding in many games, while the victories have stacked up.

Per statistical analysis, in only two games have Villa posted an expected goals figure notably superior than their opponents. For a side who have just won 10 in a row, they appear curiously susceptible – but right now the margins are swinging for them.

The Winning Formula

Their recent policy appears to be to exchange chances with rivals and wait for Rogers to bail them out with a couple of precise efforts. This was the case against Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and again when facing Manchester United.

His opener came from a brilliant finish, bent right inside the upright from the edge of the area. For his second proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he seized on a pass from Watkins.

“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?

Logic says not. During the latest victory, the opponents had more efforts and more shots on target. They have secured their last eight victories by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all except one of those matches.

A statistical correction may well be the most significant challenge they will encounter in the near future. Rogers, almost certainly, will not continue to drilling his shots past despairing goalkeepers forever.

A Case for Belief

Perhaps there is an alternative path where, instead of luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures could still rediscover their best form.

• Ollie Watkins may begin to scoring again.
• The winger might become the performer he showed in Germany.
• The defensive duo are set to regain fitness, bolstering a sometimes shaky defence.

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

Relishing the Unlikely

However, nobody expected this. Few believed Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely two months ago, nobody thought the young forward by the end of the year would be spearheading a title charge while establishing himself as a crucial player for the national team.

The current run should be enjoyed precisely because it feels so unlikely. As the match-winner faced the North End after the match leading the celebrations, he appeared to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are rare in football and must be appreciated.