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It was eight weeks ago when the young forward stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed while his coach admonished him over failing to anticipate a through-ball. At that point, with the team endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear if his displays were a sign or the reason of the side's broader struggles.

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

This weekend, in contrast, the sideline response was entirely decidedly more positive. When Rogers drilled in his brace-sealing goal to reinstate Villa's lead, the boss discarded his coat, threw his arms wide and roared. Villa marched on to a tenth straight victory , despite not winning any of their first six matches, now sit just three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Genuine Hopefuls?

It remains an exceptionally difficult query to resolve. Past precedent, the traditional standing of this institution, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they've rarely been completely commanding during this run, even as the wins have piled up.

According to Opta, twice all season has the side had an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a club which has put together ten consecutive victories, Villa look weirdly vulnerable – yet at the moment the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Winning Formula

The current approach looks like to trade blows with rivals and wait for their star man to save the day with two precise efforts. This occurred at Leeds, it occurred in London, and it happened versus Manchester United.

The initial strike came from a superb shot, arced just inside the post from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal proved to be a slight scruffier version of the opener as he seized 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. Against United, the opponents had more shots and more direct attempts. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those fixtures.

A reversion to average could be the biggest rival they will encounter over the coming weeks. The forward, in all likelihood, will not continue to blasting the ball into the net's top corner forever.

Potential for Growth

Perhaps there is a different scenario in which, instead of luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs might still rediscover their best form.

• Ollie Watkins may begin to finding the net regularly.
• The winger could transform into the performer he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• The defensive duo will eventually regain fitness, bolstering a periodically leaky defence.

Perhaps there is in that the seeds for a sustained push, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.

Enjoying the Ride

But then, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And certainly earlier this season, nobody thought Rogers now would be spearheading a hunt for the title while establishing himself as an essential player for the national team.

This remarkable period is to be savoured for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. When the match-winner positioned himself before the home supporters after the match leading the celebrations, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. Such periods are rare in football and should be relished.