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A mere 60 days prior when the young forward stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused while his coach scolded him for missing a penetrating pass. At that point, with the team failed to win in six, it wasn't clear whether his displays were a symptom or the source of Villa's broader struggles.

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

On Sunday, however, the manager's outburst was much more joyous. After the England international swept in his second to reclaim his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician discarded his winter coat, opened his arms and bellowed. The Birmingham club were on their way to ten wins in a row , despite not winning any of their first six games, find themselves just three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Title Contenders?

That’s an exceptionally difficult query to address. Past precedent, a general sense of Villa, argues against it. Additionally, they've rarely been wholly dominant during this run, despite the fact the victories have accumulated.

As per the data, twice all season have Villa posted an expected goals figure significantly higher than the other team. For a side who have put together 10 in a row, they appear strangely fragile – but at the moment the fine lines are going in their favour.

The Winning Formula

The prevailing tactic seems to be to exchange chances with rivals and then rely on Rogers to bail them out with two crisp finishes. It happened against Leeds, it transpired in London, and again against Manchester United.

His opener stemmed from an exquisite effort, bent just inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. For his second proved to be a slight scruffier version of the opener as he seized on a pass from Watkins.

“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, the opposition managed more efforts and more efforts on goal. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those matches.

A reversion to average might be the most significant challenge they will encounter as the season progresses. The forward, almost certainly, will not continue to blasting his shots into the top corner indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Perhaps there is a different scenario whereby, rather than results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players may yet rediscover their best form.

• The main striker may begin to adding to his goal tally.
• The winger could transform into the force he resembled during his peak.
• The injured centre-backs are due to regain fitness, strengthening a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the seeds for a sustained push, but they surely cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.

Relishing the Unlikely

Yet, this is a surprise. Few believed the team would be third at Christmas. And most definitely two months ago, nobody thought the young forward now would be leading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a crucial England player.

This remarkable period must be cherished precisely because it appears so improbable. As the hero faced the North End at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form are rare in football and should be relished.