Morgan Rogers' Scoring Streak Fuels Villa's Unlikely Push for Glory

Just two months prior that the Villa attacker found himself on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed while his coach admonished him over missing a penetrating pass. At that point, as the club endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear whether his performances were a sign or a cause of Villa's broader struggles.

On Sunday, in contrast, the touchline reaction was much more joyous. As the England international drilled in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician discarded his winter coat, spread his arms and bellowed. Villa marched on to ten wins in a row and after failing to win their opening six matches, are somehow a mere three points off pace-setters Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Serious Title Contenders?

It remains a rather hard proposition to address. History, the traditional standing of this institution, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, their performances haven't been entirely convincing during this run, despite the fact the wins have accumulated.

As per Opta, in only two games has the side had an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a club who have put together a ten-match winning streak, they seem curiously susceptible – however currently the fine lines are going in their favour.

The Rogers Recipe

The prevailing tactic appears to be to engage in a shootout with rivals and wait for their star man to bail them out with two precise efforts. This occurred against Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and again against Manchester United.

His opener came from a brilliant finish, arced right inside the post from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one capitalizing on a pass from Watkins.

How Long Can This Continue?

Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, Manchester United managed more efforts and more efforts on goal. Villa have won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in all but one of those matches.

A reversion to average could be the most significant challenge they must confront over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, cannot keep on blasting the ball into the net's top corner forever.

Reasons for Optimism

Could it be a different scenario whereby, rather than luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players might still rediscover their best form.

• The centre-forward could start finding the net regularly.
• The winger could transform into the performer he showed during his peak.
• The defensive duo are set to return from injury, bolstering a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Perhaps there is in that the possibility for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

However, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt earlier this season, no one envisioned Rogers as the year closed would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while looking like a vital player for the national team.

The current run must be cherished exactly since it appears so improbable. When the match-winner faced the North End at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are rare in football and should be relished.