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A mere eight weeks ago that the Villa attacker was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery admonished him over missing a through-ball. At that point, with the team endured a six-game winless run, the question was if his displays were a sign or the reason for Villa's more general malaise.

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

This weekend, however, the touchline reaction was decidedly more positive. When Rogers swept in his second strike to restore Villa's lead, Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club marched on to a tenth straight victory , despite not winning their initial half-dozen games, are somehow a mere three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Serious Hopefuls?

It remains a rather hard query to answer. The historical record, a general sense of the club, indicates otherwise. Moreover, they have not been completely commanding during this run, while the positive results have stacked up.

As per the data, twice all season has the side posted an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a team that have just won ten consecutive victories, they look curiously susceptible – yet right now the tight outcomes are swinging for them.

The Winning Formula

Their recent policy looks like to trade blows with the opposition before hoping Rogers to bail them out with two clinical strikes. This occurred at Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and it happened against the Red Devils.

The initial strike stemmed from an exquisite effort, arced right inside the upright from a wide position. The follow-up goal proved to be a slight scruffier version of his first as he pounced 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.”

Can It Last?

Reason suggests otherwise. During the latest victory, the opponents managed more shots and more direct attempts. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those matches.

Regression to the mean may well be the greatest opponent the club have to face as the season progresses. Rogers, surely, cannot keep on thrashing his shots past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

Potential for Growth

Could it be a different scenario in which, rather than luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs could still find their top level.

• The centre-forward may begin to scoring again.
• The attacking talent may rediscover the force he was at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to return from injury, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable defence.

Perhaps there is in that the potential of a genuine bid, but they surely can continue to depend solely on one man.

Savoring the Moment

However, this is a surprise. Few believed Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And certainly two months ago, no one envisioned Rogers now would be leading a hunt for the title while looking like a vital player for the national team.

The current run should be enjoyed for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. When the match-winner positioned himself before the North End after the match conducting the cheers, it was clear to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These spells are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.