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It was two months ago that the young forward stood on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered while the Villa manager berated him for not reading a pass in behind. Back then, with the team failed to win in six, doubts remained if his performances were a symptom or a cause for the side's broader struggles.

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

In the latest match, in contrast, the touchline reaction was far more favourable. When the in-form star curled home his brace-sealing goal to reinstate the lead for Villa, the boss discarded his winter coat, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club marched on to a 10th successive win , despite not winning any of their first six fixtures, find themselves a mere three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Genuine Hopefuls?

It remains an exceptionally difficult query to address. History, a general sense of this institution, argues against it. Moreover, they've rarely been entirely convincing this season, even as the wins have accumulated.

Per Opta, on just two occasions have Villa posted an xG notably superior than the opposition. For a side who have put together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans appear weirdly vulnerable – but at the moment the tight outcomes are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

The current approach looks like to trade blows with an opponent and wait for Rogers to rescue them with some precise efforts. This occurred away to Leeds, it occurred in London, and it happened when facing United.

His opener came from a superb shot, bent just inside the goal frame from a wide position. For his second acted as a slightly less clean iteration of the opener as he seized on a pass from Watkins.

“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?

Logic says not. Against United, the opposition registered a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all but one of those games.

A statistical correction might be the greatest opponent they will encounter as the season progresses. The forward, surely, cannot keep on blasting the football into the net's top corner week in, week out.

A Case for Belief

Maybe there exists another reality whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs might still find their top level.

• The main striker may begin to adding to his goal tally.
• The winger could transform into the force he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to return from injury, strengthening a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Perhaps there is in that the potential of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.

Relishing the Unlikely

However, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought the team would be in the top three for the holidays. And certainly back in October, nobody thought the midfielder by the end of the year would be spearheading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a crucial player for the national team.

This winning streak is to be savoured for the very reason that it appears so improbable. When Rogers faced the Villa faithful after the match orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.