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A mere two months prior when the Villa attacker found himself on the Sunderland turf, looking confused while the Villa manager scolded him over not reading a pass in behind. During that period, as Villa went six without a win, it wasn't clear whether Rogers' form 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, however, the sideline response was entirely decidedly more positive. As the England international swept in his second strike to reclaim the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician tore off his jacket, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club were on their way to ten wins in a row , having failed to win their initial half-dozen matches, find themselves a mere three points off the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Legitimate Hopefuls?

It remains a particularly tough question to address. The historical record, the traditional standing of this institution, suggests not. Furthermore, their performances haven't been entirely convincing this season, while the positive results have stacked up.

As per Opta, on just two occasions has the team had an expected goals figure notably superior than their opponents. For a club that have put together a ten-match winning streak, they look strangely fragile – yet right now the fine lines are going in their favour.

The Reliant Strategy

The current approach appears to be to exchange chances with the opposition and wait for their star man to save the day with some crisp finishes. This occurred away to Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and it happened against Manchester United.

The initial strike stemmed from a superb shot, curled just inside the goal frame from a wide position. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of the opener as he seized on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

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

How Long Can This Continue?

Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, the opposition managed a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those games.

A reversion to average could be the greatest opponent the club have to face over the coming weeks. Rogers, surely, will not continue to drilling the ball past despairing goalkeepers forever.

Potential for Growth

Maybe there exists an alternative path in which, instead of results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures may yet return to peak condition.

• Ollie Watkins may begin to scoring again.
• The attacking talent could transform into the force he showed in Germany.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually return from injury, bolstering a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

This could contain the potential for a sustained push, however, it is improbable cannot keep relying on one man.

Relishing the Unlikely

However, nobody expected this. Few believed Villa would be third at Christmas. And most definitely back in October, no one envisioned Rogers by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a title charge and appearing as a crucial England player.

This winning streak must be cherished precisely because it feels so unlikely. When the match-winner positioned himself before the Villa faithful at the final whistle conducting the cheers, it was clear to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.