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Just two months prior when Morgan Rogers stood on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused as his coach berated him for not reading a pass in behind. Back then, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear whether his performances were an indicator or the source of the team's wider issues.

“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”

This weekend, though, the sideline response was far more favourable. When the in-form star drilled in his second strike to reinstate Villa's lead, the boss ripped off his winter coat, opened his arms and bellowed. The team were on their way to a 10th successive win and having failed to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, are somehow only three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Genuine Hopefuls?

It remains a particularly tough proposition to address. Past precedent, the perceived status of the club, suggests not. Furthermore, their performances haven't been entirely convincing in many games, while the wins have stacked up.

Per Opta, twice all season has the team had an expected goals figure notably superior than their opponents. For a team who have just won ten consecutive victories, Villa appear curiously susceptible – however right now the margins are going in their favour.

The Rogers Recipe

The current approach appears to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition before hoping their talisman to bail them out with some crisp finishes. This was the case at Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and again versus the Red Devils.

His opener came from a superb shot, curled precisely inside the upright from a wide position. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he pounced 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.”

Can It Last?

Common sense dictates no. Against United, the opposition registered more shots and more efforts on goal. The team has secured their last eight victories by just one goal. They have allowed goals in all but one of those fixtures.

A statistical correction might be the most significant challenge they will encounter over the coming weeks. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot maintain drilling the ball into the top corner week in, week out.

Reasons for Optimism

Perhaps there is a different scenario in which, rather than results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs might still return to peak condition.

• The main striker may begin to adding to his goal tally.
• The attacking talent may rediscover the player he showed during his peak.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to return from injury, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.

Perhaps there is in that the seeds for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

Yet, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would be in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely two months ago, nobody thought Rogers as the year closed would be spearheading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a crucial Three Lions star.

This winning streak is to be savoured precisely because it feels so unlikely. When Rogers faced the North End when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. Such periods do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.