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Just two months in the past when the young forward found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery admonished him over missing a through-ball. During that period, with the team endured a six-game winless run, the question was if his performances were a symptom or the reason 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, however, the touchline reaction was far more favourable. When Rogers swept in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician tore off his jacket, spread his arms and bellowed. The Birmingham club were on their way to a 10th successive win and having failed to win any of their first six fixtures, are somehow only three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Genuine Hopefuls?

This is a rather hard query to resolve. History, the perceived status of the club, argues against it. Furthermore, their performances haven't been completely commanding during this run, even as the positive results have stacked up.

Per statistical analysis, twice all season has the team posted an expected goals figure significantly higher than the opposition. For a side which has just won ten consecutive victories, Villa seem weirdly vulnerable – however right now the fine lines are falling their way.

The Winning Formula

The prevailing tactic appears to be to trade blows with an opponent before hoping their talisman to bail them out with two crisp finishes. This occurred against Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and it happened when facing United.

Rogers' first goal originated from a brilliant finish, bent right inside the post from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of his first capitalizing 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.”

Is It Sustainable?

Logic says not. Against United, the opponents had more efforts and more direct attempts. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. They have allowed goals in all except one of those matches.

Regression to the mean may well be the biggest rival they must confront over the coming weeks. The forward, in all likelihood, will not continue to drilling his shots into the top corner week in, week out.

A Case for Belief

Could it be an alternative path where, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Important figures could still return to peak condition.

• Ollie Watkins may begin to scoring again.
• The winger may rediscover the performer he showed during his peak.
• The injured centre-backs will eventually regain fitness, fortifying a periodically leaky backline.

Perhaps there is in that the possibility for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Relishing the Unlikely

Yet, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt two months ago, few could imagine the midfielder as the year closed would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit and appearing as a crucial Three Lions star.

The current run must be cherished precisely because it seems so surreal. When the match-winner faced the Villa faithful after the match leading the celebrations, he seemed to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. Such periods are rare in football and must be appreciated.