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A mere two months ago that Morgan Rogers found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered while his coach berated him over missing a pass in behind. Back then, with the team endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear if his displays were an indicator or a cause of the side's broader struggles.

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

On Sunday, though, the sideline response was much more joyous. When the in-form star curled home his second to reclaim Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician discarded his winter coat, spread his arms and roared. Villa were on their way to a tenth straight victory and despite not winning their initial half-dozen fixtures, are somehow a mere three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Title Contenders?

That’s a rather hard question to resolve. Past precedent, the traditional standing of this institution, suggests not. Moreover, they've rarely been completely commanding this season, despite the fact the wins have piled up.

As per the data, on just two occasions has the team registered an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a team who have strung together ten consecutive victories, the Villans seem strangely fragile – yet at the moment the fine lines are swinging for them.

The Winning Formula

Their recent policy seems to be to trade blows with rivals before hoping their star man to bail them out with a couple of precise efforts. This occurred at Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and once more versus Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal originated from a brilliant finish, arced right inside the upright from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal was essentially a slight scruffier version of his first capitalizing on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

“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. In the recent win, Manchester United managed a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. The team has won each of their last eight by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those matches.

A reversion to average could be the biggest rival the club must confront over the coming weeks. Rogers, surely, cannot keep on thrashing his shots into the net's top corner week in, week out.

Reasons for Optimism

Maybe there exists an alternative path where, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs could still find their top level.

• The main striker may begin to scoring again.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the force he was during his peak.
• The defensive duo will eventually return from injury, fortifying a periodically leaky backline.

Maybe within that lies the seeds of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on one man.

Savoring the Moment

But then, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely two months ago, no one envisioned Rogers now would be spearheading a championship pursuit while looking like a crucial Three Lions star.

This remarkable period must be cherished exactly since it seems so surreal. As the match-winner stood in front of the North End after the match leading the celebrations, he appeared to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.