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A mere two months ago that Morgan Rogers was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered as his coach admonished him for missing a through-ball. During that period, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear whether Rogers' form were a sign or a cause for the side's more general malaise.

“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”

On Sunday, however, the manager's outburst proved to be far more favourable. After the England international swept in his second strike to reclaim his side's advantage, the boss ripped off his jacket, spread his arms and roared. The Birmingham club continued to a tenth straight victory , having failed to win any of their first six fixtures, now sit a mere three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Serious Hopefuls?

This is a particularly tough query to resolve. The historical record, a general sense of this institution, suggests not. Furthermore, they have not been wholly dominant in many games, despite the fact the positive results have accumulated.

According to Opta, twice all season has the team posted an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a side which has just won ten consecutive victories, the Villans look weirdly vulnerable – but at the moment the margins are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

The prevailing tactic appears to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition and wait for Rogers to bail them out with some crisp finishes. This was the case against Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and it happened when facing United.

His opener stemmed from a superb shot, arced right inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. For his second proved to be a slight scruffier version of his first as he seized on a setup by his strike partner.

“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”

Is It Sustainable?

Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, the opposition registered a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. They have allowed goals in all except one of those matches.

Regression to the mean could be the greatest opponent Villa will encounter over the coming weeks. Their key man, almost certainly, will not continue to drilling the ball into the net's top corner indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Perhaps there is a different scenario where, rather than results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players might still rediscover their best form.

• The main striker could start finding the net regularly.
• The winger might become the performer he was in Germany.
• The injured centre-backs are set to return from injury, fortifying a periodically leaky defensive unit.

This could contain the potential of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on one man.

Savoring the Moment

But then, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Aston Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely earlier this season, few could imagine the young forward by the end of the year would be spearheading a title charge while looking like a crucial England player.

The current run should be enjoyed for the very reason that it seems so surreal. As the hero faced 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 rare in football and must be appreciated.