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A mere eight weeks ago when Morgan Rogers found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed while the Villa manager berated him for not reading a through-ball. During that period, with the team went six without a win, it wasn't clear if Rogers' form were a symptom or the reason of the side's more general malaise.

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

On Sunday, however, the touchline reaction was much more joyous. After the in-form star drilled in his brace-sealing goal to reinstate his side's advantage, the boss discarded his jacket, opened his arms and bellowed. The Birmingham club continued to a tenth straight victory , having failed to win their opening six matches, find themselves just three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.

Is This Team Serious Title Contenders?

That’s a particularly tough question to address. Past precedent, a general sense of this institution, suggests not. Additionally, their performances haven't been completely commanding during this run, even as the positive results have stacked up.

As per Opta, on just two occasions has the team registered an xG more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a side who have strung together ten consecutive victories, the Villans look weirdly vulnerable – but at the moment the margins are falling their way.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy seems to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition before hoping their talisman to bail them out with two clinical strikes. It happened against Leeds, it transpired in London, and once more when facing Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal came from a brilliant finish, curled precisely inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal acted as a slight scruffier version of goal number one as he pounced on a pass from Watkins.

“Perhaps Rogers’ right foot is becoming like Arjen Robben’s left: just because you know he’s going to whip the ball into the top corner doesn’t mean you can stop him.”

Is It Sustainable?

Logic says not. Against United, the opposition managed a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. The team has won each of their last eight by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all except one of those matches.

Regression to the mean could be the most significant challenge the club will encounter over the coming weeks. Their key man, surely, cannot maintain blasting his shots past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Maybe there exists another reality whereby, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players might still rediscover their best form.

• The centre-forward might resume adding to his goal tally.
• The winger might become the force he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually regain fitness, fortifying a periodically leaky backline.

This could contain the seeds for a sustained push, but they surely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.

Enjoying the Ride

However, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable the team would be in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt back in October, no one envisioned Rogers as the year closed would be spearheading a hunt for the title and appearing as a crucial England player.

This winning streak is to be savoured for the very reason that it seems so surreal. When the match-winner stood in front of the North End after the match orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form are rare in football and should be relished.