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A mere 60 days ago that Morgan Rogers found himself on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered as his coach admonished him for missing a pass in behind. At that point, with the team went six without a win, the question was if Rogers' form were a sign or the reason for Villa's broader struggles.

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

This weekend, though, the touchline reaction was decidedly more positive. As the England international swept in his second strike to reinstate his side's advantage, the boss tore off his jacket, opened his arms and bellowed. Villa continued to ten wins in a row , despite not winning their initial half-dozen fixtures, now sit only three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Legitimate Title Contenders?

It remains a particularly tough query to resolve. Past precedent, the perceived status of the club, suggests not. Moreover, they've rarely been wholly dominant this season, despite the fact the wins have stacked up.

As per Opta, on just two occasions has the side posted an xG notably superior than the opposition. For a side that have just won a ten-match winning streak, they look weirdly vulnerable – yet at the moment the tight outcomes are swinging for them.

The Winning Formula

Their recent policy looks like to engage in a shootout with rivals before hoping their talisman to bail them out with two clinical strikes. This occurred away to Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and it happened versus the Red Devils.

The initial strike came from a superb shot, arced precisely inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. For his second was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of the opener capitalizing 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.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Reason suggests otherwise. During the latest victory, the opponents registered a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. The team has secured their last eight victories by a single goal. They’ve conceded in all but one of those games.

A reversion to average might be the greatest opponent they must confront as the season progresses. Their key man, in all likelihood, cannot maintain thrashing the ball into the top corner forever.

Reasons for Optimism

Could it be a different scenario in which, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players might still find their top level.

• The centre-forward could start finding the net regularly.
• The attacking talent might become the performer he resembled in Germany.
• The injured centre-backs will eventually come back from the treatment room, strengthening a periodically leaky defence.

Maybe within that lies the possibility for a sustained push, but they surely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, this is a surprise. Few believed the team would occupy third at Christmas. And without a doubt earlier this season, nobody thought the young forward as the year closed would be leading a championship pursuit and appearing as a vital England player.

This remarkable period is to be savoured precisely because it seems so surreal. When Rogers faced the North End when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These spells are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.