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It was two months prior when the Villa attacker stood on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed while the Villa manager scolded him over missing a penetrating pass. During that period, as Villa failed to win in six, doubts remained if his performances were a sign or the source of the side's wider issues.

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

This weekend, in contrast, the touchline reaction was much more joyous. After the in-form star swept in his second to restore his side's advantage, the boss ripped off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club marched on to ten wins in a row , despite not winning their initial half-dozen games, now sit a mere three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Hopefuls?

It remains a particularly tough question to resolve. The historical record, the traditional standing of the club, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, their performances haven't been wholly dominant during this run, while the wins have stacked up.

Per the data, in only two games has the team registered an expected goals figure significantly higher than the opposition. For a club who have strung together ten consecutive victories, they look strangely fragile – but at the moment the tight outcomes are falling their way.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy looks like to trade blows with rivals and wait for Rogers to save the day with two crisp finishes. This occurred away to Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and once more when facing Manchester United.

The initial strike came from a brilliant finish, curled right inside the upright from the corner of the box. For his second was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he seized 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?

Common sense dictates no. Against United, Manchester United had more efforts and more direct attempts. The team has secured their last eight victories by a single goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those games.

A statistical correction could be the biggest rival the club have to face over the coming weeks. Rogers, surely, will not continue to drilling his shots past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.

A Case for Belief

Maybe there exists a different scenario in which, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs may yet find their top level.

• Ollie Watkins might resume finding the net regularly.
• Jadon Sancho may rediscover the player he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
• The injured centre-backs are set to return from injury, fortifying a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Perhaps there is in that the seeds of a genuine bid, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

But then, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought the team would be third at Christmas. And without a doubt back in October, few could imagine the midfielder now would be leading a title charge while looking like a vital player for the national team.

This winning streak is to be savoured exactly since it feels so unlikely. As the match-winner positioned himself before the North End at the final whistle leading the celebrations, it was clear to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are rare in football and should be relished.