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Just eight weeks ago that Morgan Rogers found himself on the Sunderland turf, looking confused while Unai Emery scolded him for not reading a through-ball. Back then, as the club went six without a win, doubts remained if Rogers' form were a symptom or the source of the side's broader struggles.

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

On Sunday, in contrast, the touchline reaction was decidedly more positive. As the in-form star curled home his second to reinstate Villa's lead, the boss discarded his winter coat, spread his arms and bellowed. Villa were on their way to ten wins in a row , having failed to win any of their first six fixtures, are somehow just three points behind the leaders Arsenal.

Is This Team Genuine Challengers?

It remains a particularly tough query to address. Past precedent, the traditional standing of Villa, argues against it. Furthermore, they have not been entirely convincing this season, despite the fact the victories have stacked up.

According to Opta, on just two occasions have Villa had an xG notably superior than the opposition. For a side that have put together a ten-match winning streak, Villa seem weirdly vulnerable – but right now the fine lines are falling their way.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy appears to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent and then rely on Rogers to save the day with a couple of clinical strikes. This occurred away to Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and again when facing Manchester United.

The initial strike stemmed from a superb shot, bent right inside the post from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration 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.”

Can It Last?

Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, the opponents registered a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those matches.

A statistical correction might be the greatest opponent they have to face over the coming weeks. The forward, surely, cannot keep on blasting his shots into the top corner week in, week out.

Reasons for Optimism

Perhaps there is an alternative path in which, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players might still return to peak condition.

• The main striker may begin to scoring again.
• Jadon Sancho might become the performer he was in Germany.
• The defensive duo are set to return from injury, strengthening a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the seeds of a genuine bid, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

Yet, this is a surprise. Few believed Aston Villa would be third at Christmas. And most definitely earlier this season, few could imagine the young forward by the end of the year would be leading a championship pursuit while looking like a crucial player for the national team.

This remarkable period should be enjoyed precisely because it appears so improbable. When the hero stood in front of the Villa faithful after the match leading the celebrations, he seemed to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These runs of form are rare in football and must be appreciated.