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A mere two months prior that the Villa attacker was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed while Unai Emery berated him over not reading a penetrating pass. At that point, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, the question was whether his performances were a symptom or the reason for the team's wider issues.

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

This weekend, though, the sideline response proved to be far more favourable. As the in-form star drilled in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician tore off his coat, opened his arms and roared. Villa marched on to ten wins in a row , despite not winning their initial half-dozen matches, find themselves a mere three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Genuine Challengers?

That’s a rather hard query to resolve. The historical record, a general sense of this institution, suggests not. Additionally, they have not been wholly dominant in many games, despite the fact the wins have piled up.

As per Opta, in only two games has the side had an xG more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a side who have just won a ten-match winning streak, the Villans appear weirdly vulnerable – yet currently the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy looks like to trade blows with an opponent before hoping their talisman to bail them out with some clinical strikes. This was the case at Leeds, it happened in London, and again when facing United.

The initial strike came from an exquisite effort, curled right inside the upright from a wide position. For his second acted as a slight scruffier version of the opener capitalizing on a pass from Watkins.

“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.”

Is It Sustainable?

Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, Manchester United registered more shots and more shots on target. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in all but one of those fixtures.

Regression to the mean may well be the biggest rival Villa will encounter over the coming weeks. Their key man, surely, cannot maintain drilling the ball past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.

A Case for Belief

Could it be a different scenario in which, rather than luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players may yet rediscover their best form.

• The centre-forward might resume adding to his goal tally.
• The winger could transform into the player he showed in Germany.
• The defensive duo will eventually regain fitness, fortifying a periodically leaky backline.

Perhaps there is in that the potential of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Relishing the Unlikely

But then, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought the team would occupy third at Christmas. And most definitely back in October, no one envisioned Rogers by the end of the year would be spearheading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a crucial Three Lions star.

This winning streak must be cherished for the very reason that it appears so improbable. As the hero positioned himself before the North End at the final whistle leading the celebrations, he seemed to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These spells are rare in football and should be relished.