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Just 60 days ago that the Villa attacker stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed while the Villa manager berated him for missing a through-ball. At that point, as the club endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear whether Rogers' form were a sign or the reason of the side's wider issues.

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

This weekend, though, the manager's outburst was entirely decidedly more positive. After the in-form star swept in his brace-sealing goal to restore his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician ripped off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. Villa continued to a tenth straight victory and despite not winning any of their first six games, find themselves just three points off pace-setters Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Legitimate Title Contenders?

This is a rather hard proposition to resolve. Past precedent, the perceived status of Villa, suggests not. Furthermore, they've rarely been completely commanding in many games, despite the fact the positive results have piled up.

As per the data, in only two games has the team posted an xG notably superior than their opponents. For a team which has strung together ten consecutive victories, they appear strangely fragile – yet right now the fine lines are going in their favour.

The Winning Formula

The prevailing tactic appears to be to exchange chances with an opponent before hoping their star man to rescue them with some crisp finishes. It happened at Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and once more against United.

The initial strike stemmed from a superb shot, arced just inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. For his second proved to be a slight scruffier version of the opener capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.

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

How Long Can This Continue?

Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, the opposition had more efforts and more direct attempts. They have won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in all except one of those games.

Regression to the mean may well be the greatest opponent they must confront over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, cannot maintain drilling the football into the net's top corner indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Perhaps there is an alternative path whereby, 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 finding the net regularly.
• The attacking talent may rediscover the player he resembled in Germany.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to come back from the treatment room, fortifying a sometimes shaky defence.

This could contain the potential for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.

Relishing the Unlikely

Yet, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Villa would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt earlier this season, no one envisioned the young forward now would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a crucial Three Lions star.

This remarkable period should be enjoyed precisely because it appears so improbable. When the hero stood in front of the North End after the match leading the celebrations, it was clear to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These spells are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.