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A mere eight weeks prior that the Villa attacker stood on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused as his coach admonished him for not reading a pass in behind. Back then, with the team endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear whether his performances were an indicator or the reason for Villa's more general malaise.

“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 manager's outburst proved to be decidedly more positive. After Rogers curled home his brace-sealing goal to restore his side's advantage, the boss ripped off his winter coat, opened his arms and bellowed. Villa continued to ten wins in a row and after failing to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, are somehow just three points off the leaders Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Legitimate Hopefuls?

That’s an exceptionally difficult query to resolve. The historical record, a general sense of this institution, suggests not. Furthermore, they have not been wholly dominant during this run, despite the fact the victories have piled up.

Per the data, twice all season has the team registered an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a club that have strung together ten consecutive victories, Villa look weirdly vulnerable – however currently the margins are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

The prevailing tactic appears to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition and wait for Rogers to bail them out with some clinical strikes. It happened away to Leeds, it transpired in London, and again against Manchester United.

The initial strike came from an exquisite effort, curled right inside the post from the corner of the box. For his second was essentially a somewhat messier replica of his first as he seized on a setup by his strike partner.

“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”

Is It Sustainable?

Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, the opposition managed more shots and more efforts on goal. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those matches.

A statistical correction could be the biggest rival Villa must confront in the near future. The forward, almost certainly, will not continue to thrashing the football into the net's top corner week in, week out.

Reasons for Optimism

Perhaps there is an alternative path whereby, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs may yet rediscover their best form.

• The main striker could start scoring again.
• The winger may rediscover the player he was during his peak.
• The defensive duo will eventually regain fitness, bolstering a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Perhaps there is in that the seeds of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on one man.

Enjoying the Ride

Yet, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Aston Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And certainly earlier this season, nobody thought the midfielder now would be spearheading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a vital England player.

The current run is to be savoured precisely because it appears so improbable. When the match-winner faced the North End after the match leading the celebrations, he seemed to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.