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It was 60 days in the past when Morgan Rogers found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered while the Villa manager admonished him for failing to anticipate a through-ball. During that period, as the club went six without a win, it wasn't clear whether Rogers' form were a sign or a cause for the team's wider issues.

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

This weekend, in contrast, the sideline response proved to be far more favourable. When Rogers swept in his second strike to reinstate Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician discarded his jacket, spread his arms and bellowed. The Birmingham club marched on to a 10th successive win and after failing to win any of their first six matches, now sit just three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Title Contenders?

This is an exceptionally difficult proposition to answer. Past precedent, a general sense of this institution, suggests not. Furthermore, they have not been completely commanding during this run, while the positive results have piled up.

Per Opta, twice all season has the team posted an xG more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a club who have put together ten consecutive victories, the Villans look curiously susceptible – however at the moment the fine lines are falling their way.

The Winning Formula

The current approach appears to be to engage in a shootout with rivals before hoping Rogers to save the day with two precise efforts. This occurred at Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and it happened against United.

The initial strike originated from a superb shot, curled precisely inside the upright from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one 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.”

Is It Sustainable?

Logic says not. In the recent win, Manchester United registered more efforts and more direct attempts. The team has won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in all but one of those games.

A reversion to average could be the biggest rival Villa will encounter over the coming weeks. Rogers, surely, will not continue to thrashing the ball past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

Potential for Growth

Could it be a different scenario in which, instead of luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures could still find their top level.

• Ollie Watkins could start scoring again.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the player he was at Borussia Dortmund.
• The injured centre-backs are set to regain fitness, strengthening a periodically leaky defence.

Perhaps there is in that the seeds of a genuine bid, but they surely cannot keep relying on one man.

Enjoying the Ride

However, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable the team would occupy third at Christmas. And most definitely earlier this season, nobody thought Rogers as the year closed would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit while looking like an essential Three Lions star.

The current run is to be savoured exactly since it feels so unlikely. As the hero faced the North End when the game ended conducting the cheers, he seemed to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells do not happen often and should be relished.