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It was two months prior that the Villa attacker was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed as the Villa manager berated him for missing a pass in behind. During that period, with the team failed to win in six, the question was whether his performances were a symptom or a cause of Villa'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 sideline response was far more favourable. As the England international swept in his brace-sealing goal to reinstate his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician tore off his jacket, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club marched on to ten wins in a row , despite not winning any of their first six matches, are somehow only three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Serious Hopefuls?

This is a particularly tough query to answer. Past precedent, the perceived status of Villa, argues against it. Moreover, they have not been entirely convincing in many games, while the victories have stacked up.

Per statistical analysis, on just two occasions have Villa posted an xG notably superior than the opposition. For a club which has strung together 10 in a row, Villa appear weirdly vulnerable – but at the moment the fine lines are swinging for them.

The Reliant Strategy

The current approach seems to be to exchange chances with rivals before hoping their star man to save the day with two crisp finishes. This was the case against Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and once more when facing the Red Devils.

The initial strike came from a superb shot, arced just inside the upright from a wide position. The follow-up goal was essentially a slight scruffier version of the opener as he seized on a setup by his strike partner.

“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Logic says not. Against United, the opposition registered a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. The team has won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those fixtures.

A statistical correction might be the greatest opponent Villa will encounter over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, cannot maintain thrashing the football past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Perhaps there is an alternative path whereby, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs may yet find their top level.

• The main striker could start scoring again.
• The winger may rediscover the force he resembled in Germany.
• The defensive duo are due to regain fitness, strengthening a sometimes shaky backline.

Maybe within that lies the potential of a genuine bid, but they surely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

But then, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely two months ago, few could imagine Rogers as the year closed would be spearheading a championship pursuit and appearing as an essential England player.

The current run is to be savoured exactly since it seems so surreal. When the hero positioned himself before the North End at the final whistle conducting the cheers, it was clear to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.