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It was eight weeks in the past that Morgan Rogers found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered as his coach admonished him for missing a penetrating pass. At that point, as Villa went six without a win, it wasn't clear whether his performances were a sign or a cause for the side's more general malaise.

“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”

In the latest match, in contrast, the manager's outburst proved to be much more joyous. As Rogers drilled in his brace-sealing goal to reinstate his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician ripped off his coat, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club were on their way to ten wins in a row , despite not winning their initial half-dozen matches, now sit a mere three points off pace-setters Arsenal.

Are They Legitimate Hopefuls?

It remains a particularly tough query to resolve. History, the perceived status of the club, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they have not been completely commanding in many games, despite the fact the victories have stacked up.

As per statistical analysis, on just two occasions has the team posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a team who have put together a ten-match winning streak, Villa seem weirdly vulnerable – yet currently the fine lines are falling their way.

The Winning Formula

The prevailing tactic seems to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent before hoping their star man to save the day with two precise efforts. This was the case away to Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and it happened when facing the Red Devils.

The initial strike originated from a brilliant finish, arced just inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of his first capitalizing 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?

Common sense dictates no. Against United, Manchester United had more shots and more direct attempts. The team has won each of their last eight by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all but one of those matches.

A statistical correction may well be the most significant challenge Villa must confront in the near future. The forward, surely, cannot maintain drilling the football into the net's top corner forever.

Reasons for Optimism

Could it be an alternative path where, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players might still find their top level.

• The centre-forward may begin to adding to his goal tally.
• The attacking talent could transform into the performer he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• The injured centre-backs are due to return from injury, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.

This could contain the potential of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

However, this is a surprise. Few believed Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely earlier this season, few could imagine the young forward now would be at the forefront of a title charge while looking like an essential England player.

The current run should be enjoyed exactly since it feels so unlikely. When the match-winner positioned himself before the North End when the game ended leading the celebrations, it was clear to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These spells do not happen often and must be appreciated.