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Just eight weeks ago when Morgan Rogers was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused while the Villa manager admonished him over failing to anticipate a through-ball. During that period, as the club endured a six-game winless run, the question was if his performances were an indicator or the source for the side's wider issues.

“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”

This weekend, however, the sideline response was decidedly more positive. When the England international swept in his brace-sealing goal to reinstate the lead for Villa, the boss ripped off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. The Birmingham club were on their way to ten wins in a row , after failing to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, find themselves just three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Hopefuls?

This is a rather hard question to resolve. History, the perceived status of this institution, suggests not. Furthermore, they've rarely been entirely convincing during this run, while the positive results have piled up.

Per statistical analysis, in only two games has the side posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a team which has strung together 10 in a row, Villa appear strangely fragile – however at the moment the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Winning Formula

The prevailing tactic appears to be to trade blows with an opponent before hoping Rogers to rescue them with a couple of clinical strikes. This occurred away to Leeds, it occurred in London, and again against the Red Devils.

The initial strike came from an exquisite effort, curled precisely inside the post from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he seized 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.”

Can It Last?

Logic says not. Against United, the opposition had more efforts and more efforts on goal. Villa have won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those games.

Regression to the mean could be the biggest rival they must confront over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, will not continue to drilling the football into the top corner week in, week out.

Reasons for Optimism

Could it be another reality whereby, instead of luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players could still find their top level.

• Ollie Watkins might resume scoring again.
• The winger could transform into the player he was in Germany.
• The injured centre-backs will eventually regain fitness, strengthening a periodically leaky defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the possibility of a genuine bid, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on one man.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, this was unforeseen. Few believed Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely two months ago, no one envisioned Rogers by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while looking like a vital England player.

This winning streak is to be savoured precisely because it seems so surreal. As Rogers stood in front of the Villa faithful at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. These spells are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.