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Just eight weeks in the past when Morgan Rogers stood on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed as the Villa manager scolded him over not reading a penetrating pass. During that period, as the club failed to win in six, doubts remained whether his performances 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.”

This weekend, though, the sideline response was far more favourable. As the in-form star drilled in his second to restore Villa's lead, the boss ripped off his coat, spread his arms and bellowed. The team were on their way to a 10th successive win and after failing to win their initial half-dozen games, are somehow a mere three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Genuine Title Contenders?

This is a rather hard question to address. History, the perceived status of this institution, argues against it. Furthermore, they have not been completely commanding during this run, while the victories have accumulated.

As per the data, on just two occasions have Villa had an expected goals figure notably superior than their opponents. For a club that have just won 10 in a row, they seem weirdly vulnerable – yet currently the margins are swinging for them.

The Winning Formula

The prevailing tactic looks like to exchange chances with the opposition and then rely on Rogers to rescue them with some crisp finishes. This was the case at Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and it happened against the Red Devils.

The initial strike came from an exquisite effort, curled precisely inside the upright from a wide position. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he pounced on a pass from Watkins.

“Perhaps Rogers’ right foot is becoming like Arjen Robben’s left: just because you know he’s going to whip the ball into the top corner doesn’t mean you can stop him.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Logic says not. During the latest victory, the opposition managed more shots and more efforts on goal. They have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those fixtures.

Regression to the mean might be the biggest rival Villa will encounter over the coming weeks. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot maintain blasting his shots into the top corner indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Could it be an alternative path where, instead of luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players may yet return to peak condition.

• Ollie Watkins could start adding to his goal tally.
• The attacking talent could transform into the player he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
• The injured centre-backs will eventually come back from the treatment room, bolstering a periodically leaky defence.

Perhaps there is in that the seeds for a sustained push, however, it is improbable cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.

Enjoying the Ride

However, nobody expected this. Few believed the team would be in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt two months ago, nobody thought Rogers now would be leading a title charge while looking like a crucial England player.

This remarkable period should be enjoyed for the very reason that it seems so surreal. When the match-winner positioned himself before the Villa faithful at the final whistle conducting the cheers, he appeared to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells do not happen often and must be appreciated.