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It was 60 days prior when the Villa attacker found himself on the Sunderland turf, looking confused while Unai Emery scolded him over failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. At that point, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear whether his performances were an indicator or the reason of the team's more general malaise.

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

On Sunday, however, the sideline response was far more favourable. After the in-form star drilled in his second to reclaim the lead for Villa, the boss tore off his jacket, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club were on their way to a tenth straight victory and after failing to win their opening six games, now sit only three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.

Are They Legitimate Title Contenders?

That’s a particularly tough query to resolve. The historical record, a general sense of the club, indicates otherwise. Moreover, they've rarely been completely commanding during this run, despite the fact the wins have accumulated.

Per Opta, twice all season have Villa registered an xG notably superior than their opponents. For a side which has just won 10 in a row, the Villans look weirdly vulnerable – however currently the margins are falling their way.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy seems to be to exchange chances with rivals and wait for their talisman to rescue them with a couple of crisp finishes. This was the case against Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and it happened against Manchester United.

His opener originated from a brilliant finish, curled just inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he pounced on a pass from Watkins.

“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?

Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, the opposition had a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. The team has won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in all except one of those games.

A reversion to average might be the biggest rival the club will encounter in the near future. Rogers, almost certainly, will not continue to blasting the ball past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.

Potential for Growth

Maybe there exists an alternative path where, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players could still return to peak condition.

• The main striker could start finding the net regularly.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the performer he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• The defensive duo are due to return from injury, fortifying a sometimes shaky defence.

Perhaps there is in that the seeds of a genuine bid, but they surely cannot keep relying on a single individual.

Relishing the Unlikely

However, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought Villa would sit third at Christmas. And without a doubt earlier this season, nobody thought the young forward as the year closed would be leading a title charge while looking like a crucial Three Lions star.

This remarkable period is to be savoured precisely because it feels so unlikely. When the hero stood in front of the Villa faithful when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.