🔗 Share this article

It was 60 days ago when Morgan Rogers stood on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed while the Villa manager admonished him for not reading a pass in behind. Back then, as the club went six without a win, the question was whether his displays were a sign or the source for the team's more general malaise.

“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”

In the latest match, though, the touchline reaction proved to be decidedly more positive. When the in-form star drilled in his second to reclaim the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician ripped off his coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. Villa marched on to ten wins in a row and after failing to win their initial half-dozen games, are somehow a mere three points off pace-setters Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Legitimate Challengers?

It remains a rather hard query to resolve. Past precedent, a general sense of Villa, suggests not. Additionally, they have not been entirely convincing in many games, while the victories have accumulated.

Per statistical analysis, twice all season has the team posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a side that have just won 10 in a row, Villa appear weirdly vulnerable – yet currently the margins are falling their way.

The Rogers Recipe

The prevailing tactic appears to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent and then rely on their talisman to rescue them with a couple of clinical strikes. This occurred against Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and it happened when facing Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal stemmed from a superb shot, curled right inside the goal frame from a wide position. The follow-up goal acted as a slight scruffier version 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.”

Can It Last?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, Manchester United registered more efforts and more direct attempts. They have won each of their last eight by a single goal. They have allowed goals in all but one of those games.

A reversion to average may well be the greatest opponent they must confront in the near future. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot keep on blasting the ball into the top corner forever.

Reasons for Optimism

Could it be a different scenario whereby, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Important figures could still rediscover their best form.

• The main striker might resume finding the net regularly.
• The winger may rediscover the performer he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually return from injury, strengthening a periodically leaky defence.

This could contain the potential for a sustained push, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.

Relishing the Unlikely

However, nobody expected this. Few believed the team would sit third at Christmas. And certainly back in October, no one envisioned the midfielder as the year closed would be leading a championship pursuit and appearing as an essential Three Lions star.

This winning streak is to be savoured exactly since it feels so unlikely. When Rogers stood in front of the North End when the game ended leading the celebrations, it was clear to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. These spells are rare in football and must be appreciated.