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A mere two months prior that Morgan Rogers was standing on the Sunderland turf, looking confused as the Villa manager admonished him for not reading a penetrating pass. At that point, as Villa went six without a win, it wasn't clear if Rogers' form were a sign or a cause of 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, though, the manager's outburst was decidedly more positive. When the in-form star curled home his second strike to reinstate his side's advantage, Emery tore off his coat, opened his arms and roared. Villa marched on to a tenth straight victory and despite not winning their initial half-dozen matches, are somehow just three points off pace-setters Arsenal.

Are They Serious Title Contenders?

It remains a particularly tough question to answer. Past precedent, the traditional standing of Villa, suggests not. Additionally, they have not been entirely convincing during this run, even as the victories have stacked up.

According to the data, in only two games has the team registered an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a side who have just won ten consecutive victories, they seem curiously susceptible – yet at the moment the fine lines are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

The prevailing tactic appears to be to engage in a shootout with rivals and wait for their talisman to rescue them with a couple of crisp finishes. It happened against Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and it happened against Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal came from a brilliant finish, curled right inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. For his second was essentially a somewhat messier replica of the opener capitalizing on a pass from Watkins.

“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. During the latest victory, the opposition managed a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those matches.

Regression to the mean could be the most significant challenge Villa will encounter in the near future. The forward, almost certainly, cannot keep on drilling the football past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Could it be a different scenario in which, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs could still return to peak condition.

• The centre-forward could start scoring again.
• The attacking talent may rediscover the player he was at Borussia Dortmund.
• The defensive duo will eventually regain fitness, strengthening a sometimes shaky defence.

This could contain the seeds for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Relishing the Unlikely

But then, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable the team would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely back in October, no one envisioned the young forward by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a vital Three Lions star.

The current run must be cherished for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. When the hero positioned himself before the North End at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.