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Just 60 days prior when the Villa attacker was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered while his coach admonished him over not reading a through-ball. At that point, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained whether his displays were a symptom or a cause for the team's wider issues.

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

In the latest match, in contrast, the manager's outburst was much more joyous. As the in-form star curled home his brace-sealing goal to reclaim his side's advantage, the boss ripped off his coat, spread his arms and roared. Villa continued to a 10th successive win , having failed to win their initial half-dozen games, find themselves just three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Hopefuls?

That’s an exceptionally difficult proposition to address. History, the perceived status of this institution, argues against it. Furthermore, they've rarely been entirely convincing in many games, while the positive results have stacked up.

Per the data, twice all season has the team posted an expected goals figure significantly higher than their opponents. For a side who have just won ten consecutive victories, the Villans look weirdly vulnerable – but right now the fine lines are falling their way.

The Rogers Recipe

The prevailing tactic looks like to trade blows with the opposition before hoping their talisman to bail them out with some clinical strikes. This was the case away to Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and it happened versus the Red Devils.

His opener came from an exquisite effort, curled just inside the post from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of the opener capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.

“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.”

Is It Sustainable?

Common sense dictates no. Against United, the opponents had a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. They have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those matches.

A statistical correction might be the greatest opponent the club must confront over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, will not continue to thrashing his shots into the top corner forever.

A Case for Belief

Could it be a different scenario in which, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players could still rediscover their best form.

• The main striker could start scoring again.
• The attacking talent might become the force he showed in Germany.
• The injured centre-backs are set to come back from the treatment room, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable backline.

Perhaps there is in that the seeds for a sustained push, but they surely cannot keep relying on one man.

Relishing the Unlikely

Yet, this is a surprise. Few believed the team would sit third at Christmas. And certainly two months ago, few could imagine Rogers now would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title and appearing as an essential player for the national team.

This remarkable period must be cherished exactly since it seems so surreal. As the hero stood in front of the home supporters after the match orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.