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A mere 60 days ago that the young forward found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered while Unai Emery admonished him over failing to anticipate a pass in behind. At that point, with the team endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear if his performances were an indicator or the reason of the side's broader struggles.

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

On Sunday, though, the touchline reaction was decidedly more positive. When Rogers curled home his brace-sealing goal to reinstate his side's advantage, the boss discarded his winter coat, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club were on their way to a 10th successive win , after failing to win their initial half-dozen matches, now sit just three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Title Contenders?

That’s a rather hard query to address. The historical record, the traditional standing of this institution, suggests not. Furthermore, their performances haven't been completely commanding this season, despite the fact the wins have accumulated.

According to Opta, twice all season has the team posted an xG notably superior than the other team. For a club that have just won 10 in a row, they seem curiously susceptible – but currently the margins are falling their way.

The Reliant Strategy

The prevailing tactic seems to be to engage in a shootout with rivals before hoping their talisman to rescue them with some crisp finishes. It happened against Leeds, it occurred in London, and again versus the Red Devils.

The initial strike came from an exquisite effort, arced just inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. For his second was essentially a somewhat messier replica of the opener as he pounced 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.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, Manchester United managed a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. The team has secured their last eight victories by a single goal. They’ve conceded in all but one of those matches.

Regression to the mean might be the most significant challenge Villa must confront as the season progresses. Rogers, surely, cannot maintain blasting the ball into the top corner week in, week out.

Potential for Growth

Perhaps there is a different scenario where, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures may yet rediscover their best form.

• Ollie Watkins might resume finding the net regularly.
• The winger could transform into the player he resembled in Germany.
• The injured centre-backs will eventually return from injury, strengthening a periodically leaky defensive unit.

Perhaps there is in that the possibility of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

However, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable the team would sit in a Champions League place in December. And certainly two months ago, few could imagine the young forward as the year closed would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title and appearing as a crucial England player.

This remarkable period is to be savoured exactly since it feels so unlikely. When Rogers positioned himself before the home supporters when the game ended conducting the cheers, he seemed to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. Such periods do not happen often and must be appreciated.