Morgan Rogers' Golden Spell Drives Aston Villa's Unlikely Push for Glory

It was 60 days in the past when Morgan Rogers stood on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered while his coach admonished him over failing to anticipate a pass in behind. At that point, as Villa failed to win in six, it wasn't clear if Rogers' form were a symptom or the source of the side's more general malaise.

On Sunday, though, the sideline response was entirely much more joyous. When Rogers curled home his second to reinstate his side's advantage, Emery discarded his winter coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. Villa marched on to a tenth straight victory and having failed to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, now sit just three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Serious Challengers?

This is a particularly tough query to answer. The historical record, the perceived status of Villa, argues against it. Additionally, their performances haven't been completely commanding this season, even as the wins have accumulated.

As per Opta, on just two occasions have Villa posted an expected goals figure significantly higher than the opposition. For a team which has put together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans appear weirdly vulnerable – but right now the fine lines are swinging for them.

The Winning Formula

Their recent policy looks like to trade blows with an opponent and then rely on their star man to save the day with two crisp finishes. This occurred at Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and again against the Red Devils.

His opener stemmed from a brilliant finish, bent right inside the upright from a wide position. The follow-up goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one capitalizing on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

Can It Last?

Common sense dictates no. Against United, the opposition had more shots and more direct attempts. Villa have secured their last eight victories by just one goal. They have allowed goals in all except one of those fixtures.

Regression to the mean may well be the most significant challenge they must confront over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, will not continue to blasting his shots past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.

A Case for Belief

Could it be another reality whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs might still return to peak condition.

• The main striker could start scoring again.
• The winger may rediscover the player he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• The defensive duo are due to regain fitness, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the potential of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Relishing the Unlikely

Yet, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt two months ago, nobody thought the young forward as the year closed would be spearheading a hunt for the title and appearing as a crucial player for the national team.

This remarkable period must be cherished for the very reason that it appears so improbable. As the hero stood in front of the North End after the match leading the celebrations, he seemed to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These spells do not happen often and should be relished.