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Just 60 days in the past when Morgan Rogers found himself on the Sunderland turf, looking confused as Unai Emery scolded him for failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. At that point, with the team failed to win in six, doubts remained if his displays were a sign or a cause for the team's broader struggles.

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

This weekend, however, the touchline reaction proved to be much more joyous. After the in-form star curled home his second strike to reinstate Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician discarded his jacket, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. Villa continued to a tenth straight victory and having failed to win any of their first six matches, are somehow a mere three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.

Are They Serious Challengers?

It remains a particularly tough proposition to answer. History, a general sense of this institution, indicates otherwise. Moreover, they have not been entirely convincing during this run, while the wins have piled up.

According to the data, on just two occasions have Villa posted an expected goals figure significantly higher than their opponents. For a team which has put together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans seem weirdly vulnerable – yet right now the fine lines are falling their way.

The Reliant Strategy

The prevailing tactic looks like to trade blows with the opposition before hoping Rogers to bail them out with a couple of precise efforts. This was the case against Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and again when facing the Red Devils.

The initial strike came from a superb shot, arced right inside the post from a wide position. The follow-up goal was essentially a somewhat messier replica of the opener capitalizing on a pass from Watkins.

“Perhaps Rogers’ right foot is becoming like Arjen Robben’s left: just because you know he’s going to whip the ball into the top corner doesn’t mean you can stop him.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Logic says not. During the latest victory, Manchester United managed more efforts and more efforts on goal. Villa have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. They’ve conceded in all but one of those matches.

A reversion to average could be the biggest rival they will encounter as the season progresses. Rogers, surely, will not continue to blasting the ball past despairing goalkeepers forever.

Reasons for Optimism

Could it be a different scenario whereby, rather than luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs could still find their top level.

• The main striker may begin to finding the net regularly.
• The attacking talent might become the force he resembled in Germany.
• The injured centre-backs are due to regain fitness, strengthening a periodically leaky defence.

Maybe within that lies the seeds of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on one man.

Relishing the Unlikely

But then, nobody expected this. Nobody thought the team would be in the top three for the holidays. And certainly earlier this season, no one envisioned the young forward by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while looking like a vital player for the national team.

This winning streak is to be savoured precisely because it appears so improbable. As Rogers faced the North End after the match orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These spells do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.