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It was 60 days in the past when Morgan Rogers stood on the Sunderland turf, looking confused as his coach berated him over failing to anticipate a pass in behind. At that point, as the club went six without a win, it wasn't clear if Rogers' form were a symptom or a cause of the side's wider issues.

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

In the latest match, though, the sideline response was entirely decidedly more positive. As the in-form star swept in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician ripped off his coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. The team marched on to ten wins in a row , having failed to win their opening six matches, are somehow just three points off pace-setters Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Title Contenders?

That’s an exceptionally difficult proposition to address. Past precedent, a general sense of the club, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they've rarely been wholly dominant this season, despite the fact the positive results have stacked up.

Per Opta, on just two occasions have Villa had an expected goals figure significantly higher than the opposition. For a team that have just won ten consecutive victories, Villa seem strangely fragile – but currently the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Winning Formula

The prevailing tactic appears to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition and then rely on their talisman to bail them out with two precise efforts. It happened away to Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and once more against United.

The initial strike came from a brilliant finish, curled precisely inside the upright from a wide position. For his second acted as a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one capitalizing on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

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

Is It Sustainable?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opposition registered a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those fixtures.

A reversion to average might be the greatest opponent the club must confront as the season progresses. Rogers, surely, cannot keep on thrashing the football past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

Potential for Growth

Perhaps there is another reality where, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players may yet find their top level.

• The main striker could start scoring again.
• The winger could transform into the force he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• The injured centre-backs are due to come back from the treatment room, strengthening a sometimes shaky defence.

This could contain the possibility for a sustained push, but they surely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

However, nobody expected this. Few believed Aston Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And certainly two months ago, no one envisioned Rogers now would be spearheading a championship pursuit and appearing as a vital Three Lions star.

The current run should be enjoyed exactly since it seems so surreal. When the hero stood in front of the home supporters when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.