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It was eight weeks in the past when the young forward found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered as the Villa manager scolded him over not reading a penetrating pass. Back then, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained if his performances were an indicator 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.”

This weekend, in contrast, the touchline reaction proved to be much more joyous. When the England international curled home his second to reclaim the lead for Villa, the boss tore off his coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. The team marched on to a 10th successive win and after failing to win any of their first six fixtures, now sit only three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Genuine Title Contenders?

This is a rather hard query to answer. History, the traditional standing of the club, suggests not. Furthermore, they've rarely been completely commanding during this run, even as the positive results have accumulated.

According to Opta, on just two occasions has the side posted an expected goals figure notably superior than the other team. For a side who have strung together ten consecutive victories, they look strangely fragile – but currently the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Winning Formula

The prevailing tactic appears to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition and wait for their star man to save the day with some precise efforts. This was the case at Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and once more when facing Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal came from an exquisite effort, bent precisely inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slight scruffier version of the opener as he seized on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

“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. Against United, the opponents registered more efforts and more shots on target. The team has secured their last eight victories by a single goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those matches.

A reversion to average could be the most significant challenge the club will encounter over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, will not continue to drilling the football into the net's top corner week in, week out.

Reasons for Optimism

Could it be another reality in which, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs could still find their top level.

• The main striker may begin to adding to his goal tally.
• The attacking talent may rediscover the force he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
• The injured centre-backs will eventually come back from the treatment room, strengthening a periodically leaky backline.

Maybe within that lies the possibility for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, nobody expected this. Nobody thought the team would sit in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt back in October, nobody thought the midfielder by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit while looking like a crucial Three Lions star.

This winning streak should be enjoyed for the very reason that it appears so improbable. As Rogers positioned himself before the North End at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These spells are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.