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It was eight weeks in the past when Morgan Rogers stood on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered as Unai Emery berated him for missing a pass in behind. At that point, as the club failed to win in six, doubts remained whether his displays were a sign or a cause of Villa's more general malaise.

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

In the latest match, however, the touchline reaction proved to be far more favourable. When the in-form star drilled in his second strike to reinstate the lead for Villa, Emery ripped off his jacket, threw his arms wide and bellowed. The team were on their way to a tenth straight victory , having failed to win their initial half-dozen matches, find themselves only three points behind the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Legitimate Title Contenders?

That’s a rather hard query to address. History, the traditional standing of Villa, argues against it. Additionally, they've rarely been completely commanding this season, while the wins have accumulated.

As per Opta, twice all season have Villa posted an xG significantly higher than the other team. For a side that have strung together a ten-match winning streak, Villa appear weirdly vulnerable – yet right now the fine lines are swinging for them.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy appears to be to exchange chances with the opposition and then rely on their star man to save the day with some precise efforts. This was the case away to Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and once more versus Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal came from a superb shot, bent just inside the upright from a wide position. The follow-up goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he seized on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

“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. In the recent win, the opponents had more efforts and more efforts on goal. They have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. They have allowed goals in all except one of those games.

Regression to the mean may well be the biggest rival Villa have to face over the coming weeks. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot maintain drilling the ball past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

Potential for Growth

Maybe there exists an alternative path where, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs might still return to peak condition.

• Ollie Watkins might resume adding to his goal tally.
• The winger might become the performer he showed during his peak.
• The injured centre-backs are set to regain fitness, strengthening a periodically leaky backline.

This could contain the potential for a sustained push, however, it is improbable cannot keep relying on a single individual.

Relishing the Unlikely

But then, this is a surprise. Few believed Aston Villa would be third at Christmas. And most definitely two months ago, no one envisioned the young forward now would be spearheading a title charge while establishing himself as a crucial player for the national team.

This winning streak is to be savoured precisely because it appears so improbable. As the hero stood in front of the home supporters when the game ended conducting the cheers, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. As he deserves to. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.