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It was 60 days in the past when Morgan Rogers found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered while his coach berated him over failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. During that period, as Villa went six without a win, doubts remained if his displays were a sign or the reason for the side's wider issues.

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

This weekend, however, the touchline reaction was entirely decidedly more positive. After Rogers swept in his second to restore his side's advantage, Emery discarded his winter coat, spread his arms and bellowed. The Birmingham club continued to ten wins in a row , despite not winning their initial half-dozen games, now sit a mere three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Serious Hopefuls?

It remains a rather hard query to answer. History, a general sense of Villa, indicates otherwise. Additionally, their performances haven't been entirely convincing in many games, despite the fact the wins have accumulated.

As per statistical analysis, twice all season have Villa had an expected goals figure significantly higher than the other team. For a team that have strung together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans seem weirdly vulnerable – yet at the moment the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Rogers Recipe

The current approach seems to be to exchange chances with an opponent and then rely on Rogers to save the day with some clinical strikes. It happened at Leeds, it transpired in London, and again versus Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal came from a brilliant finish, bent just inside the post from a wide position. The follow-up goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of the opener as he pounced 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?

Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, the opposition managed more shots and more direct attempts. Villa have won each of their last eight by a single goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those fixtures.

A statistical correction might be the greatest opponent the club must confront as the season progresses. Rogers, in all likelihood, cannot keep on drilling the football past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

Potential for Growth

Maybe there exists a different scenario whereby, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players may yet return to peak condition.

• The main striker may begin to finding the net regularly.
• The winger may rediscover the performer he was at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to return from injury, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable defence.

Maybe within that lies the possibility of a title challenge, but they surely can continue to depend solely on one man.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, this is a surprise. Few believed the team would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt two months ago, few could imagine the midfielder by the end of the year would be spearheading a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a vital England player.

This remarkable period must be cherished exactly since it feels so unlikely. When the match-winner faced the Villa faithful when the game ended leading the celebrations, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. Such periods do not happen often and must be appreciated.