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Just eight weeks in the past that Morgan Rogers was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused while Unai Emery admonished him over not reading a penetrating pass. At that point, with the team failed to win in six, the question was if Rogers' form were a symptom 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, in contrast, the sideline response proved to be much more joyous. After Rogers swept in his second to restore Villa's lead, the boss tore off his jacket, opened his arms and bellowed. The team were on their way to a tenth straight victory , after failing to win any of their first six fixtures, now sit a mere three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Hopefuls?

That’s a particularly tough question to resolve. Past precedent, a general sense of the club, argues against it. Additionally, they have not been wholly dominant during this run, despite the fact the positive results have piled up.

Per Opta, on just two occasions has the side had an xG more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a side who have put together 10 in a row, the Villans look curiously susceptible – however right now the tight outcomes are falling their way.

The Reliant Strategy

The prevailing tactic seems to be to trade blows with the opposition and then rely on Rogers to rescue them with some precise efforts. This occurred against Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and again when facing the Red Devils.

His opener stemmed from a superb shot, curled precisely inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal acted as a slight scruffier version of goal number one as he pounced 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. In the recent win, the opponents had a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. They have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those fixtures.

A statistical correction could be the biggest rival they must confront over the coming weeks. Rogers, surely, cannot keep on drilling his shots into the top corner week in, week out.

A Case for Belief

Perhaps there is a different scenario where, rather than luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs could still return to peak condition.

• The main striker could start finding the net regularly.
• Jadon Sancho might become the player he was at Borussia Dortmund.
• The injured centre-backs are due to return from injury, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable defence.

This could contain the potential of a title challenge, but they surely cannot keep relying on one man.

Relishing the Unlikely

Yet, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would occupy third at Christmas. And certainly back in October, few could imagine the young forward by the end of the year would be spearheading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a crucial England player.

This winning streak is to be savoured exactly since it feels so unlikely. As Rogers faced the North End when the game ended conducting the cheers, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. As he deserves to. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.