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It was eight weeks in the past that Morgan Rogers found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered while his coach scolded him for missing a through-ball. At that point, as the club failed to win in six, it wasn't clear whether Rogers' form were a sign 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.”

On Sunday, however, the touchline reaction was much more joyous. After the in-form star drilled in his second strike to restore the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician discarded his coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. The team were on their way to ten wins in a row and after failing to win their opening six games, are somehow a mere three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

Are They Legitimate Hopefuls?

This is a rather hard question to answer. The historical record, a general sense of this institution, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they have not been wholly dominant in many games, even as the wins have stacked up.

As per Opta, in only two games have Villa posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a side which has strung together ten consecutive victories, Villa seem curiously susceptible – yet right now the fine lines are falling their way.

The Reliant Strategy

The current approach seems to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent and then rely on their talisman to save the day with a couple of precise efforts. This was the case at Leeds, it transpired in London, and it happened when facing Manchester United.

The initial strike stemmed from a brilliant finish, curled just inside the goal frame from a wide position. The follow-up goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he seized 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.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opposition registered a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. They have won each of their last eight by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all except one of those games.

A reversion to average may well be the most significant challenge Villa will encounter as the season progresses. Their key man, in all likelihood, cannot keep on drilling the ball into the net's top corner forever.

A Case for Belief

Could it be an alternative path in which, rather than results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players might still find their top level.

• The main striker could start adding to his goal tally.
• The attacking talent might become the force he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
• The defensive duo are due to come back from the treatment room, strengthening a sometimes shaky backline.

Perhaps there is in that the possibility for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.

Enjoying the Ride

Yet, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought Aston Villa would occupy third at Christmas. And most definitely back in October, no one envisioned the young forward as the year closed would be spearheading a championship pursuit while looking like a crucial England player.

This winning streak is to be savoured for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. When the match-winner positioned himself before the home supporters after the match leading the celebrations, he appeared to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. These runs of form are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.