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It was eight weeks prior when the young forward was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered as his coach berated him over missing a through-ball. Back then, as Villa went six without a win, the question was whether his performances were an indicator or the reason of the team's broader struggles.

“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”

On Sunday, though, the manager's outburst proved to be much more joyous. As the in-form star swept in his brace-sealing goal to restore his side's advantage, the boss discarded his coat, spread his arms and bellowed. The team marched on to ten wins in a row , after failing to win their opening six fixtures, now sit only three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Serious Hopefuls?

It remains a rather hard proposition to address. The historical record, a general sense of the club, suggests not. Additionally, they've rarely been wholly dominant in many games, while the victories have stacked up.

According to the data, twice all season have Villa registered an xG notably superior than the opposition. For a side who have strung together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans look strangely fragile – but right now the tight outcomes are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

The current approach appears to be to trade blows with an opponent and wait for their talisman to save the day with two clinical strikes. This was the case against Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and once more when facing United.

His opener stemmed from an exquisite effort, bent just inside the post from the edge of the area. For his second proved to be a slight scruffier version of his first capitalizing on a pass from Watkins.

“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Logic says not. Against United, the opposition registered more shots and more efforts on goal. Villa have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those matches.

A reversion to average may well be the greatest opponent they will encounter in the near future. The forward, surely, will not continue to drilling his shots past despairing goalkeepers forever.

Reasons for Optimism

Could it be another reality in which, instead of results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs may yet rediscover their best form.

• Ollie Watkins may begin to adding to his goal tally.
• The attacking talent might become the performer he was at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to return from injury, fortifying a periodically leaky defence.

This could contain the possibility for a sustained push, but they surely cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.

Enjoying the Ride

However, this was unforeseen. Few believed Aston Villa would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And certainly two months ago, few could imagine the young forward as the year closed would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while establishing himself as an essential player for the national team.

This remarkable period must be cherished for the very reason that it seems so surreal. When the match-winner stood in front of the home supporters at the final whistle conducting the cheers, he seemed to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.