🔗 Share this article This Remarkable Rich Vein of Form Propels Aston Villa's Unlikely Push for Glory Just eight weeks in the past that Morgan Rogers stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed as his coach berated him over failing to anticipate a through-ball. Back then, as the club failed to win in six, the question was if his performances were a sign or the source 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.” The Sideline Explosion of Triumph On Sunday, however, the touchline reaction was entirely decidedly more positive. After the in-form star drilled in his second to reinstate his side's advantage, Emery tore off his winter coat, opened his arms and roared. The Birmingham club marched on to a 10th successive win and having failed to win their opening six matches, now sit just three points off table-toppers Arsenal. Are They Legitimate Challengers? That’s a rather hard query to address. History, the traditional standing of the club, suggests not. Furthermore, their performances haven't been completely commanding this season, despite the fact the positive results have accumulated. Per Opta, on just two occasions have Villa had an xG notably superior than their opponents. For a side who have just won a ten-match winning streak, the Villans seem strangely fragile – however right now the fine lines are swinging for them. The Rogers Recipe The current approach looks like to trade blows with rivals and then rely on Rogers to bail them out with two crisp finishes. It happened against Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and it happened against United. The initial strike came from an exquisite effort, bent just inside the upright from the corner of the box. For his second acted as a somewhat messier replica of the opener capitalizing on an Ollie Watkins lay-off. “Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.” A Formidable Weapon How Long Can This Continue? Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, Manchester United managed a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. The team has won each of their last eight by a single goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those fixtures. A reversion to average may well be the biggest rival the club have to face over the coming weeks. Their key man, in all likelihood, will not continue to thrashing the ball past despairing goalkeepers forever. Reasons for Optimism Maybe there exists a different scenario where, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures may yet find their top level. The centre-forward might resume finding the net regularly. Jadon Sancho could transform into the performer he resembled during his peak. Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually regain fitness, strengthening a periodically leaky defence. This could contain the seeds for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on one man. Savoring the Moment Yet, this was unforeseen. Few believed Villa would occupy third at Christmas. And certainly two months ago, nobody thought the young forward now would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title and appearing as a crucial Three Lions star. This remarkable period is to be savoured exactly since it seems so surreal. When the match-winner positioned himself before the North End after the match orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These spells are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.