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A mere two months in the past that Morgan Rogers stood on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused as his coach scolded him over failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. Back then, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear if his performances were a sign or the reason for Villa's more general malaise.

“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 entirely decidedly more positive. When the in-form star curled home his second strike to restore his side's advantage, Emery tore off his jacket, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. Villa continued to ten wins in a row and after failing to win their initial half-dozen games, now sit a mere three points off the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Hopefuls?

That’s an exceptionally difficult proposition to answer. Past precedent, a general sense of the club, indicates otherwise. Moreover, their performances haven't been entirely convincing this season, despite the fact the victories have stacked up.

Per the data, on just two occasions has the team posted an xG significantly higher than the other team. For a side which has strung together ten consecutive victories, the Villans look weirdly vulnerable – however right now the fine lines are falling their way.

The Winning Formula

The prevailing tactic appears to be to exchange chances with the opposition and then rely on their star man to rescue them with some crisp finishes. This was the case away to Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and again versus the Red Devils.

Rogers' first goal came from an exquisite effort, curled precisely inside the upright from the corner of the box. For his second acted as a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he pounced 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 opposition had more efforts and more shots on target. The team has secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in all except one of those matches.

A reversion to average might be the greatest opponent they have to face over the coming weeks. Rogers, in all likelihood, cannot maintain drilling the football into the top corner week in, week out.

Reasons for Optimism

Maybe there exists another reality whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs could still find their top level.

• The centre-forward may begin to adding to his goal tally.
• The winger could transform into the player he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• The injured centre-backs are due to regain fitness, strengthening a periodically leaky defensive unit.

Perhaps there is in that the potential of a title challenge, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on one man.

Relishing the Unlikely

However, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought Aston Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely two months ago, few could imagine Rogers now would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit while looking like a vital England player.

The current run should be enjoyed exactly since it appears so improbable. When the match-winner positioned himself before the North End after the match orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be thoroughly enjoying it. As he deserves to. These spells are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.