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It was 60 days prior that the Villa attacker was standing on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered as the Villa manager scolded him for failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. During that period, as the club went six without a win, it wasn't clear whether his displays were a symptom or the reason of the team's wider issues.

“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 was entirely far more favourable. As the in-form star swept in his second strike to reclaim the lead for Villa, the boss ripped off his jacket, opened his arms and bellowed. The team marched on to ten wins in a row , despite not winning their opening six fixtures, find themselves a mere three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Genuine Challengers?

That’s a particularly tough question to answer. Past precedent, the traditional standing of Villa, indicates otherwise. Moreover, they have not been entirely convincing this season, despite the fact the wins have stacked up.

According to the data, in only two games have Villa had an xG significantly higher than their opponents. For a club which has put together ten consecutive victories, they appear strangely fragile – however at the moment the fine lines are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

The prevailing tactic looks like to exchange chances with rivals and wait for their star man to bail them out with some crisp finishes. This was the case at Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and once more against United.

His opener came from an exquisite effort, bent precisely inside the post from the edge of the area. For his second was essentially a somewhat messier replica of the opener capitalizing 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?

Logic says not. In the recent win, Manchester United had more shots and more efforts on goal. They have won each of their last eight by just one goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those matches.

Regression to the mean may well be the most significant challenge the club have to face in the near future. The forward, surely, cannot maintain thrashing the football into the net's top corner forever.

A Case for Belief

Could it be another reality whereby, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs might still return to peak condition.

• Ollie Watkins might resume finding the net regularly.
• The winger could transform into the player he was at Borussia Dortmund.
• The injured centre-backs will eventually come back from the treatment room, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the seeds of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on one man.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, nobody expected this. Few believed Villa would be third at Christmas. And certainly earlier this season, few could imagine Rogers by the end of the year would be spearheading a title charge while establishing himself as a vital player for the national team.

The current run is to be savoured for the very reason that it seems so surreal. As Rogers stood in front of the home supporters when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. Such periods are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.