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A mere eight weeks ago that Morgan Rogers stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered while his coach scolded him for failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. Back then, as the club endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained if his displays were a symptom or the reason of Villa'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, in contrast, the touchline reaction proved to be far more favourable. After the in-form star curled home his brace-sealing goal to reinstate Villa's lead, the boss ripped off his coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. The Birmingham club continued to ten wins in a row , having failed to win their opening six matches, are somehow just three points off the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Legitimate Title Contenders?

That’s a particularly tough query to resolve. The historical record, the traditional standing of this institution, suggests not. Additionally, they've rarely been entirely convincing during this run, despite the fact the victories have stacked up.

As per statistical analysis, in only two games has the team registered an xG notably superior than their opponents. For a club which has strung together 10 in a row, they appear strangely fragile – yet currently the fine lines are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

The prevailing tactic appears to be to trade blows with the opposition and wait for their star man to save the day with some clinical strikes. This occurred against Leeds, it happened in London, and once more against the Red Devils.

The initial strike stemmed from a brilliant finish, arced just inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of his first capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.

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

How Long Can This Continue?

Logic says not. In the recent win, the opponents managed a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all except one of those matches.

A statistical correction may well be the greatest opponent they must confront in the near future. The forward, in all likelihood, will not continue to drilling his shots into the net's top corner indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Maybe there exists a different scenario in which, instead of results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players could still rediscover their best form.

• Ollie Watkins might resume adding to his goal tally.
• The attacking talent could transform into the performer he was during his peak.
• The defensive duo are due to return from injury, strengthening a sometimes shaky backline.

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

Savoring the Moment

But then, this was unforeseen. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely earlier this season, few could imagine Rogers now would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a crucial Three Lions star.

This winning streak is to be savoured for the very reason that it appears so improbable. When the match-winner faced the North End after the match conducting the cheers, it was clear to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. Such periods do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.