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A mere 60 days prior when the Villa attacker stood on the Sunderland turf, looking confused while his coach admonished him over not reading a through-ball. At that point, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear if his performances were a symptom or a cause for the side's more general malaise.

“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 much more joyous. As Rogers swept in his second strike to reinstate the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician discarded his coat, opened his arms and bellowed. The team continued to a tenth straight victory , after failing to win their initial half-dozen games, find themselves only three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Serious Title Contenders?

This is a particularly tough proposition to answer. History, a general sense of this institution, suggests not. Furthermore, they have not been entirely convincing this season, while the wins have stacked up.

As per statistical analysis, in only two games has the side had an xG notably superior than the other team. For a side that have put together 10 in a row, Villa seem strangely fragile – yet at the moment the margins are going in their favour.

The Reliant Strategy

The prevailing tactic appears to be to exchange chances with rivals and wait for their talisman to save the day with a couple of clinical strikes. This occurred against Leeds, it transpired in London, and again against the Red Devils.

Rogers' first goal stemmed from a superb shot, bent just inside the goal frame from a wide position. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slight scruffier version of goal number one as he seized 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, the opposition registered a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. They have won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in all except one of those fixtures.

A statistical correction might be the biggest rival Villa have to face over the coming weeks. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot maintain thrashing his shots past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Perhaps there is a different scenario where, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players might still return to peak condition.

• The main striker may begin to scoring again.
• The winger may rediscover the performer he showed in Germany.
• The defensive duo are due to return from injury, strengthening a periodically leaky backline.

Perhaps there is in that the possibility of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on a single individual.

Relishing the Unlikely

However, this is a surprise. Few believed Aston Villa would occupy third at Christmas. And most definitely back in October, few could imagine the midfielder by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit while looking like an essential England player.

This remarkable period is to be savoured precisely because it feels so unlikely. As the match-winner positioned himself before the Villa faithful when the game ended conducting the cheers, he seemed to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form do not happen often and must be appreciated.