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It was 60 days prior when Morgan Rogers stood on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused as Unai Emery berated him for missing a through-ball. During that period, as Villa failed to win in six, it wasn't clear whether his displays were a symptom or a cause of the side's more general malaise.

“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”

On Sunday, though, the touchline reaction proved to be far more favourable. When Rogers swept in his second to reinstate the lead for Villa, the boss ripped off his jacket, opened his arms and roared. The team were on their way to a 10th successive win , having failed to win their initial half-dozen games, are somehow a mere three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Legitimate Hopefuls?

That’s a particularly tough query to answer. History, a general sense of Villa, argues against it. Additionally, they've rarely been wholly dominant in many games, while the wins have stacked up.

Per the data, twice all season has the side posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a side that have strung together 10 in a row, Villa seem strangely fragile – but currently the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Winning Formula

The current approach appears to be to trade blows with an opponent before hoping their star man to bail them out with some precise efforts. It happened against Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and once more when facing United.

His opener came from a superb shot, arced precisely inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal acted as a slight scruffier version of the opener 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?

Reason suggests otherwise. During the latest victory, Manchester United registered a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. They have allowed goals in all except one of those games.

A reversion to average might be the most significant challenge they will encounter over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, cannot keep on thrashing his shots into the top corner week in, week out.

A Case for Belief

Perhaps there is a different scenario where, rather than luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players may yet rediscover their best form.

• The centre-forward may begin to scoring again.
• The attacking talent might become the player he showed in Germany.
• The defensive duo will eventually regain fitness, bolstering a sometimes shaky defence.

Perhaps there is in that the possibility for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.

Enjoying the Ride

Yet, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable the team would sit third at Christmas. And without a doubt two months ago, nobody thought Rogers as the year closed would be leading a hunt for the title while looking like a vital England player.

This winning streak should be enjoyed precisely because it seems so surreal. As the match-winner faced the North End after the match conducting the cheers, it was clear to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. Such periods do not happen often and should be relished.