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A mere two months prior that the Villa attacker found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused while the Villa manager scolded him for missing a pass in behind. Back then, as the club failed to win in six, the question was if Rogers' form were a sign or the source for the side's broader struggles.

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

On Sunday, though, the sideline response was entirely much more joyous. As the in-form star curled home his second strike to restore his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician ripped off his coat, spread his arms and bellowed. Villa were on their way to ten wins in a row and despite not winning their initial half-dozen games, now sit only three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Serious Title Contenders?

This is a particularly tough query to address. The historical record, the perceived status of the club, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, their performances haven't been wholly dominant this season, even as the positive results have accumulated.

According to the data, in only two games has the team posted an xG significantly higher than their opponents. For a club who have just won ten consecutive victories, the Villans seem curiously susceptible – yet right now the tight outcomes are falling their way.

The Winning Formula

The prevailing tactic seems to be to trade blows with an opponent and then rely on Rogers to save the day with two precise efforts. It happened against Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and it happened when facing United.

Rogers' first goal stemmed from a superb shot, bent precisely inside the upright from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of his first capitalizing on a pass from Watkins.

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

Can It Last?

Logic says not. Against United, the opposition managed more shots and more efforts on goal. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all but one of those games.

Regression to the mean could be the biggest rival the club must confront in the near future. Rogers, almost certainly, will not continue to thrashing the ball into the top corner indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Perhaps there is another reality whereby, rather than results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players might still find their top level.

• The main striker may begin to finding the net regularly.
• The winger could transform into the player he resembled in Germany.
• The injured centre-backs are due to return from injury, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable backline.

Perhaps there is in that the possibility of a title challenge, but they surely cannot keep relying on a single individual.

Relishing the Unlikely

But then, this was unforeseen. It seemed improbable the team would sit third at Christmas. And most definitely two months ago, no one envisioned the midfielder by the end of the year would be leading a championship pursuit while looking like an essential England player.

The current run is to be savoured precisely because it seems so surreal. As the match-winner faced the home supporters at the final whistle leading the celebrations, he appeared to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. Such periods are rare in football and should be relished.