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Just eight weeks prior when the Villa attacker stood on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered as Unai Emery berated him over missing a pass in behind. Back then, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, the question was whether Rogers' form were an indicator or a cause of the side's wider issues.

“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”

In the latest match, in contrast, the touchline reaction was much more joyous. When the in-form star curled home his brace-sealing goal to restore the lead for Villa, the boss tore off his jacket, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. Villa were on their way to a tenth straight victory , despite not winning any of their first six fixtures, are somehow a mere three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Serious Hopefuls?

This is a rather hard proposition to address. History, a general sense of Villa, suggests not. Furthermore, their performances haven't been wholly dominant during this run, even as the victories have stacked up.

As per statistical analysis, in only two games has the team had an xG more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a side who have just won a ten-match winning streak, Villa look weirdly vulnerable – but right now the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Reliant Strategy

The current approach seems to be to exchange chances with the opposition and wait for their talisman to bail them out with some precise efforts. This occurred against Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and again against United.

His opener came from a brilliant finish, bent just inside the post from a wide position. The follow-up goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of the opener capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.

“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”

Can It Last?

Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, Manchester United managed a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those fixtures.

A statistical correction might be the greatest opponent the club have to face over the coming weeks. Their key man, in all likelihood, will not continue to drilling the football into the top corner week in, week out.

A Case for Belief

Maybe there exists a different scenario where, rather than luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs might still rediscover their best form.

• The centre-forward could start scoring again.
• The winger might become the force he was at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to regain fitness, fortifying a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Perhaps there is in that the seeds of a title challenge, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.

Savoring the Moment

But then, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought Aston Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely back in October, no one envisioned Rogers by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a title charge while establishing himself as a crucial Three Lions star.

This remarkable period should be enjoyed for the very reason that it seems so surreal. When Rogers stood in front of the home supporters after the match orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. Such periods are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.