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It was 60 days in the past that Morgan Rogers stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery scolded him for not reading a pass in behind. During that period, as the club went six without a win, it wasn't clear if his performances were a sign or a cause of Villa's broader struggles.

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

In the latest match, however, the manager's outburst was much more joyous. After the England international drilled in his second to restore his side's advantage, the boss tore off his coat, spread his arms and bellowed. The team continued to a tenth straight victory , having failed to win their opening six fixtures, now sit a mere three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Challengers?

This is a rather hard query to answer. The historical record, a general sense of Villa, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, their performances haven't been wholly dominant during this run, while the positive results have accumulated.

As per the data, twice all season has the team posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a team which has strung together ten consecutive victories, they seem curiously susceptible – yet currently the fine lines are falling their way.

The Winning Formula

The current approach appears to be to trade blows with an opponent and then rely on their talisman to save the day with a couple of crisp finishes. It happened away to Leeds, it happened in London, and once more against United.

Rogers' first goal stemmed from a brilliant finish, bent just inside the upright from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal acted as a slight scruffier version of goal number one 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.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Logic says not. In the recent win, the opposition managed a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those matches.

A statistical correction might be the most significant challenge the club must confront over the coming weeks. Rogers, surely, cannot maintain blasting the football past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Could it be an alternative path where, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players could still find their top level.

• The main striker might resume adding to his goal tally.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the force he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to come back from the treatment room, fortifying a sometimes shaky defence.

This could contain the seeds of a title challenge, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on one man.

Savoring the Moment

However, nobody expected this. Nobody thought the team would be 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 crucial England player.

The current run should be enjoyed precisely because it appears so improbable. When the hero faced the home supporters when the game ended leading the celebrations, it was clear to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells do not happen often and should be relished.