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A mere 60 days ago when Morgan Rogers was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered as the Villa manager scolded him over missing a penetrating pass. At that point, with the team failed to win in six, the question was if his displays were a symptom or the reason for Villa's broader struggles.

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

On Sunday, in contrast, the manager's outburst proved to be much more joyous. As the in-form star curled home his second strike to restore Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician tore off his coat, threw his arms wide and roared. The team were on their way to ten wins in a row and having failed to win their opening six fixtures, are somehow a mere three points behind the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Legitimate Hopefuls?

That’s a particularly tough question to address. The historical record, the traditional standing of the club, suggests not. Furthermore, their performances haven't been entirely convincing during this run, despite the fact the victories have accumulated.

According to statistical analysis, twice all season have Villa registered an xG notably superior than the opposition. For a team who have strung together 10 in a row, they appear weirdly vulnerable – however at the moment the tight outcomes are falling their way.

The Reliant Strategy

The current approach appears to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition and wait for their star man to bail them out with a couple of crisp finishes. This occurred against Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and once more versus the Red Devils.

The initial strike came from an exquisite effort, curled just inside the post from a wide position. His brace-completing goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he pounced 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.”

Is It Sustainable?

Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, Manchester United had more efforts and more efforts on goal. The team has won each of their last eight by a single goal. They’ve conceded in all but one of those fixtures.

A reversion to average could be the biggest rival the club will encounter as the season progresses. Rogers, almost certainly, cannot keep on blasting his shots into the net's top corner indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Perhaps there is an alternative path whereby, instead of luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures might still find their top level.

• Ollie Watkins might resume adding to his goal tally.
• The winger might become the player he resembled during his peak.
• The defensive duo will eventually come back from the treatment room, strengthening a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the possibility of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.

Savoring the Moment

However, this was unforeseen. It seemed improbable the team would sit in a Champions League place in December. And certainly two months ago, no one envisioned the midfielder now would be spearheading a title charge while establishing himself as a vital player for the national team.

This remarkable period must be cherished for the very reason that it appears so improbable. When Rogers positioned himself before the Villa faithful after the match orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These spells are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.