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It was two months prior when the Villa attacker found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered while Unai Emery berated him for not reading a penetrating pass. At that point, with the team endured a six-game winless run, the question was whether his performances were a symptom or a cause for the side's wider issues.

“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”

On Sunday, in contrast, the manager's outburst proved to be decidedly more positive. After the in-form star swept in his second to restore the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician discarded his jacket, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club marched on to ten wins in a row , having failed to win any of their first six fixtures, now sit a mere three points behind the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Title Contenders?

This is a rather hard query to address. The historical record, the perceived status of Villa, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they've rarely been completely commanding in many games, despite the fact the victories have stacked up.

As per Opta, on just two occasions has the side posted an xG significantly higher than their opponents. For a team who have put together 10 in a row, Villa look strangely fragile – but currently the margins are falling their way.

The Winning Formula

The prevailing tactic seems to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent before hoping their star man to save the day with some crisp finishes. It happened against Leeds, it happened in London, and again against the Red Devils.

His opener came from an exquisite effort, arced precisely inside the upright from a wide position. The follow-up goal acted as a somewhat messier replica of his first as he seized on a pass from Watkins.

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

Is It Sustainable?

Logic says not. During the latest victory, Manchester United registered more efforts and more efforts on goal. They have won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those matches.

A reversion to average may well be the biggest rival Villa have to face as the season progresses. The forward, surely, cannot maintain blasting the ball into the net's top corner forever.

A Case for Belief

Maybe there exists another reality 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 centre-forward might resume adding to his goal tally.
• The winger might become the player he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
• The defensive duo will eventually return from injury, strengthening a sometimes shaky backline.

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

Savoring the Moment

But then, nobody expected this. Few believed the team would be in the top three for the holidays. And certainly two months ago, nobody thought the young forward as the year closed would be at the forefront of a title charge while establishing himself as an essential Three Lions star.

The current run is to be savoured exactly since it feels so unlikely. As Rogers positioned himself before the North End after the match conducting the cheers, he seemed to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These runs of form do not happen often and must be appreciated.