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It was 60 days ago when the Villa attacker was standing on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed while his coach admonished him for missing a pass in behind. During that period, as the club failed to win in six, it wasn't clear whether his displays were a symptom or a cause for the side's broader struggles.

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

This weekend, though, the manager's outburst proved to be decidedly more positive. When the in-form star curled home his second strike to reinstate Villa's lead, the boss ripped off his coat, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. Villa marched on to a tenth straight victory , after failing to win any of their first six games, now sit just three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Is This Team Serious Title Contenders?

That’s a particularly tough query to address. Past precedent, the perceived status of this institution, indicates otherwise. Additionally, their performances haven't been entirely convincing during this run, even as the positive results have accumulated.

According to statistical analysis, on just two occasions has the side posted an expected goals figure significantly higher than their opponents. For a team who have just won ten consecutive victories, they look strangely fragile – however at the moment the fine lines are going in their favour.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy appears to be to trade blows with the opposition before hoping Rogers to bail them out with a couple of precise efforts. It happened away to Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and it happened when facing Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal came from an exquisite effort, arced right inside the upright from the edge of the area. For his second acted as a slight scruffier version of the opener as he pounced on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

“Perhaps Rogers’ right foot is becoming like Arjen Robben’s left: just because you know he’s going to whip the ball into the top corner doesn’t mean you can stop him.”

Can It Last?

Logic says not. Against United, Manchester United managed a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. Villa have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those games.

A reversion to average may well be the biggest rival the club will encounter in the near future. Rogers, surely, cannot maintain thrashing the football into the top corner indefinitely.

Potential for Growth

Perhaps there is an alternative path in which, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players could still rediscover their best form.

• The main striker could start adding to his goal tally.
• The winger might become the force he resembled during his peak.
• The defensive duo are set to come back from the treatment room, bolstering a periodically leaky backline.

Perhaps there is in that the seeds of a title challenge, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Relishing the Unlikely

However, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Aston Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely back in October, few could imagine Rogers by the end of the year would be spearheading a title charge while establishing himself as an essential England player.

This winning streak must be cherished exactly since it appears so improbable. As the hero positioned himself before the North End at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.