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It was eight weeks in the past when the Villa attacker stood on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed while the Villa manager admonished him for not reading a penetrating pass. At that point, as Villa went six without a win, doubts remained whether his displays were a symptom or the reason for the side's wider issues.

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

This weekend, however, the manager's outburst was entirely decidedly more positive. After Rogers curled home his second to restore Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician discarded his winter coat, opened his arms and roared. The team were on their way to a 10th successive win and having failed to win their opening six matches, find themselves just three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Title Contenders?

This is an exceptionally difficult proposition to answer. History, the traditional standing of Villa, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they've rarely been wholly dominant during this run, even as the positive results have stacked up.

According to statistical analysis, in only two games have Villa registered an expected goals figure notably superior than the other team. For a team which has strung together 10 in a row, they look weirdly vulnerable – yet at the moment the margins are going in their favour.

The Winning Formula

Their recent policy looks like to exchange chances with rivals and then rely on Rogers to rescue them with two clinical strikes. It happened away to Leeds, it happened in London, and once more versus United.

The initial strike came from a brilliant finish, arced right inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal proved to be a somewhat messier replica of the opener as he pounced on a pass from Watkins.

“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”

Is It Sustainable?

Logic says not. In the recent win, the opposition managed more shots and more shots on target. The team has secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in all but one of those fixtures.

Regression to the mean could be the most significant challenge the club have to face in the near future. Rogers, surely, cannot keep on blasting the ball into the net's top corner forever.

Potential for Growth

Maybe there exists an alternative path where, instead of luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players may yet rediscover their best form.

• The main striker may begin to finding the net regularly.
• The winger could transform into the performer he resembled during his peak.
• The defensive duo will eventually regain fitness, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable defence.

Maybe within that lies the possibility of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.

Relishing the Unlikely

But then, nobody expected this. Few believed Aston Villa would occupy third at Christmas. And without a doubt earlier this season, few could imagine Rogers by the end of the year would be leading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a crucial Three Lions star.

The current run must be cherished for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. As the match-winner stood in front of the Villa faithful at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.