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It was eight weeks in the past when Morgan Rogers was standing on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery berated him over missing a penetrating pass. Back then, as the club failed to win in six, doubts remained if his performances were an indicator or a cause for the team's wider issues.

“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”

This weekend, in contrast, the sideline response was entirely decidedly more positive. As Rogers curled home his second strike to reinstate the lead for Villa, Emery discarded his coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. The Birmingham club were on their way to a 10th successive win and having failed to win their initial half-dozen games, now sit only three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Genuine Hopefuls?

This is an exceptionally difficult query to answer. History, a general sense of Villa, argues against it. Moreover, they have not been wholly dominant this season, even as the wins have accumulated.

According to the data, in only two games has the side registered an xG notably superior than the opposition. For a club who have put together 10 in a row, Villa look curiously susceptible – but currently the margins are going in their favour.

The Reliant Strategy

The prevailing tactic appears to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent and then rely on their star man to bail them out with a couple of precise efforts. This occurred against Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and it happened versus United.

Rogers' first goal originated from a brilliant finish, curled precisely inside the post from a wide position. The follow-up goal proved to be a somewhat messier replica 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. In the recent win, Manchester United registered more efforts and more direct attempts. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those matches.

Regression to the mean may well be the biggest rival the club will encounter over the coming weeks. Rogers, in all likelihood, cannot keep on thrashing his shots into the top corner forever.

Potential for Growth

Perhaps there is an alternative path where, rather than luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs could still rediscover their best form.

• The main striker may begin to scoring again.
• Jadon Sancho may rediscover the player he resembled in Germany.
• The injured centre-backs are set to regain fitness, bolstering a periodically leaky backline.

Maybe within that lies the potential of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on one man.

Savoring the Moment

However, nobody expected this. Few believed Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely earlier this season, no one envisioned the young forward by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a title charge while establishing himself as a vital England player.

The current run must be cherished precisely because it seems so surreal. As the match-winner faced the Villa faithful when the game ended conducting the cheers, he seemed to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.