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Just two months prior that the Villa attacker stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused as Unai Emery scolded him over missing a penetrating pass. During that period, with the team failed to win in six, doubts remained whether his performances were a sign or the source of the team's more general malaise.

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

In the latest match, though, the manager's outburst was entirely decidedly more positive. After the in-form star drilled in his second strike to reinstate his side's advantage, Emery ripped off his coat, threw his arms wide and roared. The Birmingham club were on their way to a tenth straight victory , having failed to win any of their first six games, find themselves only three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.

Are They Serious Challengers?

This is a rather hard proposition to address. History, a general sense of Villa, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they have not been wholly dominant during this run, while the victories have stacked up.

According to statistical analysis, in only two games has the side posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a side which has put together ten consecutive victories, Villa look weirdly vulnerable – however right now the margins are going in their favour.

The Rogers Recipe

The current approach appears to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition before hoping their talisman to save the day with two precise efforts. It happened at Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and once more against the Red Devils.

Rogers' first goal came from a brilliant finish, bent precisely inside the upright from a wide position. For his second was essentially a slight scruffier version of goal number one capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.

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

How Long Can This Continue?

Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, the opponents managed more efforts and more efforts on goal. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. They have allowed goals in all but one of those fixtures.

A statistical correction could be the greatest opponent the club will encounter over the coming weeks. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot maintain drilling his shots past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.

A Case for Belief

Perhaps there is an alternative path in which, instead of luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players may yet return to peak condition.

• The main striker might resume adding to his goal tally.
• The winger could transform into the player he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
• The injured centre-backs will eventually come back from the treatment room, fortifying a sometimes shaky defence.

Maybe within that lies the possibility for a sustained push, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Relishing the Unlikely

However, this is a surprise. Few believed the team would sit in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt earlier this season, nobody thought the midfielder by the end of the year would be spearheading a championship pursuit and appearing as a vital player for the national team.

This winning streak should be enjoyed for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. When the hero positioned himself before the home supporters after the match orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. These runs of form do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.