The Astonishing Rich Vein of Form Drives The Villans' Surprising Push for Glory

Just two months ago that the Villa attacker was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered while the Villa manager admonished him over not reading a through-ball. Back then, with the team failed to win in six, doubts remained whether Rogers' form were a symptom or the source for the team's wider issues.

On Sunday, however, the manager's outburst was entirely decidedly more positive. When the in-form star swept in his brace-sealing goal to restore Villa's lead, the boss discarded his winter coat, opened his arms and roared. Villa were on their way to a 10th successive win , after failing to win any of their first six games, now sit just three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Challengers?

This is a particularly tough proposition to answer. Past precedent, a general sense of Villa, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they have not been wholly dominant in many games, despite the fact the positive results have accumulated.

Per the data, twice all season has the team had an xG more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a club that have just won a ten-match winning streak, Villa seem strangely fragile – yet currently the margins are falling their way.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy looks like to trade blows with an opponent and then rely on their star man to bail them out with a couple of clinical strikes. This was the case at Leeds, it occurred in London, and it happened against Manchester United.

His opener came from an exquisite effort, arced just inside the goal frame from a wide position. For his second was essentially a slight scruffier version of the opener as he pounced on a setup by his strike partner.

How Long Can This Continue?

Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, Manchester United managed a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. The team has won each of their last eight by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all except one of those games.

A statistical correction might be the biggest rival Villa will encounter as the season progresses. The forward, almost certainly, will not continue to thrashing his shots into the net's top corner indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Maybe there exists a different scenario where, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures may yet rediscover their best form.

• The centre-forward could start adding to his goal tally.
• The winger may rediscover the force he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• The injured centre-backs are set to return from injury, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable defence.

Perhaps there is in that the seeds of a title challenge, but they surely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.

Relishing the Unlikely

However, nobody expected this. Nobody thought the team would sit in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely two months ago, no one envisioned the young forward by the end of the year would be leading a championship pursuit and appearing as a crucial England player.

This winning streak is to be savoured for the very reason that it seems so surreal. When Rogers positioned himself before the home supporters at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. Such periods are rare in football and must be appreciated.