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A mere eight weeks prior when Morgan Rogers found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered as Unai Emery admonished him for missing a pass in behind. At that point, as the club went six without a win, the question was whether his performances were a symptom or a cause for the side's broader struggles.

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

In the latest match, though, the sideline response was entirely far more favourable. When the in-form star swept in his brace-sealing goal to restore the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician tore off his coat, opened his arms and roared. Villa continued to ten wins in a row , after failing to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, now sit only three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Is This Team Serious Title Contenders?

It remains a rather hard question to answer. History, a general sense of the club, suggests not. Furthermore, they have not been completely commanding this season, while the positive results have piled up.

According to Opta, twice all season have Villa registered an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a team that have put together 10 in a row, they seem curiously susceptible – however currently the tight outcomes are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy seems to be to trade blows with the opposition and then rely on Rogers to rescue them with some crisp finishes. It happened against Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and again versus Manchester United.

His opener stemmed from an exquisite effort, arced right inside the goal frame from a wide position. For his second proved to be a slight scruffier version of the opener as he seized 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.”

Is It Sustainable?

Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, the opponents managed more efforts and more efforts on goal. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in all except one of those games.

A reversion to average may well be the biggest rival they will encounter in the near future. Rogers, in all likelihood, cannot keep on blasting the football past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.

Potential for Growth

Perhaps there is another reality where, instead of luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs could still find their top level.

• The centre-forward might resume finding the net regularly.
• Jadon Sancho may rediscover the player he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to come back from the treatment room, strengthening a sometimes shaky defence.

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

Enjoying the Ride

However, this was unforeseen. Few believed Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And certainly 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 an essential Three Lions star.

This remarkable period is to be savoured exactly since it feels so unlikely. As the match-winner positioned himself before the North End when the game ended conducting the cheers, he seemed to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These spells are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.