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It was eight weeks in the past when Morgan Rogers stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered as Unai Emery admonished him for missing a through-ball. During that period, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear if Rogers' form were a symptom or the reason for the team's wider issues.

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

On Sunday, however, the touchline reaction was entirely far more favourable. When the in-form star drilled in his second strike to reinstate his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician ripped off his coat, opened his arms and bellowed. The Birmingham club were on their way to a 10th successive win , after failing to win their initial half-dozen games, find themselves just three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Genuine Challengers?

It remains a particularly tough proposition to answer. History, the perceived status of this institution, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they've rarely been entirely convincing this season, even as the victories have accumulated.

As per Opta, on just two occasions has the team posted an xG notably superior than the opposition. For a team who have strung together ten consecutive victories, they appear weirdly vulnerable – however at the moment the fine lines are falling their way.

The Winning Formula

The prevailing tactic looks like to engage in a shootout with the opposition and then rely on their star man to rescue them with some crisp finishes. This occurred at Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and again versus the Red Devils.

The initial strike originated from a brilliant finish, curled just inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal proved to be a somewhat messier replica of goal number one capitalizing 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.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opposition had a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. They have won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those fixtures.

A reversion to average may well be the greatest opponent they will encounter over the coming weeks. Their key man, surely, will not continue to drilling the football past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Perhaps there is another reality whereby, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players might still find their top level.

• The centre-forward could start finding the net regularly.
• The attacking talent could transform into the player he resembled in Germany.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually come back from the treatment room, bolstering a sometimes shaky defence.

Perhaps there is in that the seeds for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on one man.

Enjoying the Ride

Yet, nobody expected this. Few believed Aston Villa would be in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt earlier this season, nobody thought the midfielder by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a vital England player.

This remarkable period should be enjoyed exactly since it seems so surreal. When the hero positioned himself before the Villa faithful at the final whistle conducting the cheers, it was clear to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.