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A mere 60 days prior that the Villa attacker was standing on the Sunderland turf, looking confused as Unai Emery berated him for failing to anticipate a through-ball. During that period, as Villa went six without a win, it wasn't clear whether Rogers' form were an indicator or a cause of Villa's broader struggles.

“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”

In the latest match, however, the touchline reaction was far more favourable. As the in-form star curled home his second to reinstate the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician discarded his jacket, opened his arms and bellowed. Villa were on their way to ten wins in a row and despite not winning any of their first six matches, find themselves only three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Genuine Hopefuls?

This is a particularly tough proposition to resolve. The historical record, the perceived status of this institution, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they've rarely been completely commanding this season, despite the fact the wins have piled up.

Per Opta, in only two games have Villa posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a club which has strung together 10 in a row, Villa look strangely fragile – but at the moment the margins are going in their favour.

The Reliant Strategy

The prevailing tactic looks like to trade blows with the opposition and then rely on Rogers to bail them out with two crisp finishes. This was the case against Leeds, it occurred in London, and it happened against Manchester United.

The initial strike came from a superb shot, curled just inside the post from the edge of the area. For his second was essentially a slight scruffier version of goal number one capitalizing on a pass from Watkins.

“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, the opponents registered more shots and more shots on target. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those matches.

A statistical correction may well be the biggest rival the club must confront over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, will not continue to thrashing the ball past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Maybe there exists a different scenario whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs could still find their top level.

• The main striker might resume scoring again.
• Jadon Sancho might become the force he resembled during his peak.
• The injured centre-backs are set to return from injury, strengthening a sometimes shaky backline.

Maybe within that lies the seeds for a sustained push, but they surely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, this was unforeseen. Few believed Aston Villa would be in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt earlier this season, few could imagine Rogers by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit while looking like a crucial England player.

This winning streak is to be savoured precisely because it appears so improbable. As Rogers stood in front of the home supporters when the game ended leading the celebrations, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.