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Just eight weeks in the past when Morgan Rogers was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused as his coach berated him for missing a penetrating pass. At that point, as the club went six without a win, it wasn't clear if his displays were a sign 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.”

This weekend, however, the sideline response proved to be decidedly more positive. After Rogers drilled in his second to restore his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician ripped off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. The Birmingham club continued to ten wins in a row and despite not winning any of their first six fixtures, now sit a mere three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.

Is This Team Genuine Challengers?

That’s a particularly tough question to answer. History, the traditional standing of this institution, argues against it. Moreover, their performances haven't been completely commanding during this run, despite the fact the positive results have stacked up.

As per Opta, in only two games has the team registered an expected goals figure notably superior than the other team. For a team which has put together ten consecutive victories, they look weirdly vulnerable – however right now the fine lines are falling their way.

The Winning Formula

The prevailing tactic appears to be to exchange chances with the opposition before hoping Rogers to rescue them with a couple of crisp finishes. This was the case away to Leeds, it occurred in London, and once more versus United.

His opener came from a superb shot, bent just inside the upright from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of the opener capitalizing on a pass from Watkins.

“Perhaps Rogers’ right foot is becoming like Arjen Robben’s left: just because you know he’s going to whip the ball into the top corner doesn’t mean you can stop him.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, Manchester United registered a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. Villa have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in all except one of those fixtures.

Regression to the mean could be the most significant challenge the club have to face in the near future. Their key man, surely, cannot maintain drilling his shots into the net's top corner week in, week out.

A Case for Belief

Could it be an alternative path in which, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs could still rediscover their best form.

• Ollie Watkins could start finding the net regularly.
• The winger might become the player he was at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to come back from the treatment room, strengthening a periodically leaky defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the potential for a sustained push, but they surely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.

Enjoying the Ride

However, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought Aston Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt back in October, no one envisioned the midfielder as the year closed would be spearheading a hunt for the title while looking like a vital player for the national team.

This remarkable period is to be savoured precisely because it seems so surreal. When the match-winner stood in front of the North End when the game ended conducting the cheers, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form are rare in football and must be appreciated.