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It was two months in the past when the Villa attacker found himself on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered while Unai Emery berated him for failing to anticipate a through-ball. Back then, with the team endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear if his displays were a symptom or the source for Villa's wider issues.

“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”

This weekend, in contrast, the manager's outburst was entirely far more favourable. When the England international curled home his second strike to reinstate Villa's lead, Emery tore off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club continued to ten wins in a row and having failed to win their opening six matches, are somehow only three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Hopefuls?

It remains a rather hard question to address. History, a general sense of Villa, argues against it. Furthermore, they have not been wholly dominant in many games, even as the positive results have piled up.

According to the data, in only two games have Villa posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a team which has just won 10 in a row, Villa look weirdly vulnerable – but right now the margins are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

The prevailing tactic seems to be to exchange chances with the opposition and then rely on their star man to save the day with some crisp finishes. It happened away to Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and it happened versus the Red Devils.

Rogers' first goal originated from a brilliant finish, arced just inside the post from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal was essentially a slight scruffier version of goal number one as he seized on a pass from Watkins.

“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”

Is It Sustainable?

Reason suggests otherwise. During the latest victory, the opposition had more efforts and more direct attempts. Villa have won each of their last eight by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all but one of those fixtures.

A statistical correction might be the biggest rival they have to face over the coming weeks. Their key man, surely, will not continue to drilling his shots into the net's top corner indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Perhaps there is another reality whereby, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs might still return to peak condition.

• The main striker could start finding the net regularly.
• The attacking talent might become the player he was during his peak.
• The injured centre-backs are set to come back from the treatment room, fortifying a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Perhaps there is in that the seeds of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable cannot keep relying on one man.

Relishing the Unlikely

Yet, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Villa would occupy third at Christmas. And most definitely back in October, nobody thought Rogers by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a title charge and appearing as a vital Three Lions star.

This winning streak must be cherished exactly since it appears so improbable. When the hero stood in front of the North End when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.