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Just eight weeks prior when Morgan Rogers stood on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered while Unai Emery berated him for missing a through-ball. At that point, with the team went six without a win, doubts remained if his performances were a sign or a cause for the side's wider issues.

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

This weekend, in contrast, the sideline response was entirely decidedly more positive. After the in-form star curled home his second to reclaim Villa's lead, the boss tore off his coat, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. The team marched on to a tenth straight victory and having failed to win any of their first six fixtures, now sit just three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Serious Title Contenders?

This is a rather hard proposition to address. The historical record, a general sense of Villa, suggests not. Additionally, their performances haven't been completely commanding this season, despite the fact the victories have stacked up.

As per Opta, in only two games has the team had an xG more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a side who have put together 10 in a row, Villa look strangely fragile – yet at the moment the fine lines are swinging for them.

The Winning Formula

The current approach looks like to exchange chances with rivals and then rely on their star man to save the day with a couple of precise efforts. This was the case against Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and again when facing Manchester United.

His opener stemmed from a superb shot, curled right inside the post from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slight scruffier version of the opener capitalizing 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.”

Can It Last?

Logic says not. Against United, the opponents registered more shots and more shots on target. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those games.

Regression to the mean may well be the greatest opponent the club must confront over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, cannot keep on blasting his shots into the top corner forever.

A Case for Belief

Maybe there exists a different scenario where, rather than results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures may yet find their top level.

• The centre-forward could start scoring again.
• The winger could transform into the player he showed in Germany.
• The injured centre-backs will eventually return from injury, fortifying a periodically leaky defensive unit.

Perhaps there is in that the possibility for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on one man.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, this was unforeseen. Few believed Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely two months ago, few could imagine the midfielder by the end of the year would be leading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a crucial England player.

This winning streak should be enjoyed exactly since it seems so surreal. As the match-winner faced the North End when the game ended conducting the cheers, he appeared to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.