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It was two months prior that Morgan Rogers stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused as his coach admonished him for not reading a through-ball. At that point, as Villa failed to win in six, doubts remained whether his performances were a symptom or the source of Villa's wider issues.

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

This weekend, however, the sideline response was decidedly more positive. When the England international drilled in his second strike to restore the lead for Villa, Emery ripped off his jacket, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club marched on to a tenth straight victory and after failing to win their initial half-dozen games, now sit a mere three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Genuine Title Contenders?

It remains a particularly tough query to address. The historical record, a general sense of the club, indicates otherwise. Moreover, they've rarely been entirely convincing in many games, despite the fact the victories have stacked up.

As per Opta, on just two occasions have Villa posted an xG significantly higher than their opponents. For a club who have just won a ten-match winning streak, the Villans appear strangely fragile – but at the moment the fine lines are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

The current approach appears to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition and then rely on their talisman to bail them out with two clinical strikes. This was the case at Leeds, it transpired in London, and again when facing the Red Devils.

His opener stemmed from an exquisite effort, arced right inside the upright from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal proved to be a somewhat messier replica of his first as he seized on a pass from Watkins.

“Perhaps Rogers’ right foot is becoming like Arjen Robben’s left: just because you know he’s going to whip the ball into the top corner doesn’t mean you can stop him.”

Is It Sustainable?

Logic says not. Against United, the opponents managed a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. They have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those fixtures.

A statistical correction may well be the greatest opponent they must confront over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, cannot maintain blasting the football past despairing goalkeepers forever.

A Case for Belief

Perhaps there is an alternative path whereby, rather than luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players may yet rediscover their best form.

• The main striker could start scoring again.
• Jadon Sancho may rediscover the performer he showed in Germany.
• The defensive duo are set to regain fitness, bolstering a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the potential of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable cannot keep relying on one man.

Relishing the Unlikely

Yet, nobody expected this. Few believed Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt two months ago, few could imagine the midfielder by the end of the year would be spearheading a title charge while establishing himself as a vital England player.

The current run is to be savoured exactly since it seems so surreal. As Rogers stood in front of the North End at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. Such periods are rare in football and should be relished.