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It was 60 days ago that the Villa attacker stood on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery scolded him for not reading a penetrating pass. Back then, as the club endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained whether his displays were a symptom or a cause for Villa's wider issues.

“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”

This weekend, in contrast, the touchline reaction proved to be much more joyous. When the in-form star curled home his second strike to restore the lead for Villa, the boss tore off his jacket, threw his arms wide and roared. Villa continued to ten wins in a row , despite not winning their opening six games, find themselves only three points behind the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Serious Title Contenders?

This is a particularly tough query to resolve. History, the perceived status of Villa, suggests not. Moreover, they've rarely been completely commanding in many games, while the wins have accumulated.

According to Opta, in only two games have Villa had an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a club that have strung together ten consecutive victories, the Villans seem curiously susceptible – yet currently the fine lines are going in their favour.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy seems to be to trade blows with the opposition and then rely on their star man to rescue them with a couple of precise efforts. This was the case against Leeds, it transpired in London, and it happened against the Red Devils.

Rogers' first goal came from a brilliant finish, arced right inside the upright from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of the opener as he pounced on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Logic says not. Against United, the opponents registered more shots and more efforts on goal. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. They have allowed goals in all except one of those matches.

A statistical correction might be the greatest opponent they will encounter as the season progresses. The forward, surely, cannot keep on thrashing the ball into the net's top corner indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Maybe there exists another reality whereby, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs may yet rediscover their best form.

• The centre-forward might resume scoring again.
• The attacking talent could transform into the player he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• The defensive duo are set to come back from the treatment room, strengthening a sometimes shaky defence.

Maybe within that lies the possibility for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

Yet, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Villa would sit third at Christmas. And without a doubt earlier this season, nobody thought Rogers as the year closed would be leading a championship pursuit while looking like an essential Three Lions star.

This winning streak must be cherished precisely because it seems so surreal. When the hero faced the Villa faithful when the game ended leading the celebrations, it was clear to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. Such periods are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.