This Remarkable Rich Vein of Form Fuels The Villans' Unlikely Push for Glory

It was two months ago when Morgan Rogers stood on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed as his coach admonished him over missing a pass in behind. Back then, as the club went six without a win, doubts remained if Rogers' form were a symptom or a cause for the team's broader struggles.

On Sunday, in contrast, the manager's outburst was entirely decidedly more positive. As Rogers drilled in his second to restore the lead for Villa, Emery discarded his jacket, threw his arms wide and bellowed. The Birmingham club continued to ten wins in a row and after failing to win their opening six fixtures, find themselves just three points behind the leaders Arsenal.

Is This Team Serious Challengers?

That’s a rather hard proposition to address. History, the perceived status of Villa, argues against it. Furthermore, they have not been wholly dominant this season, while the wins have piled up.

Per statistical analysis, on just two occasions has the team posted an expected goals figure notably superior than their opponents. For a club which has strung together a ten-match winning streak, Villa seem weirdly vulnerable – yet at the moment the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy looks like to engage in a shootout with an opponent and then rely on Rogers to save the day with a couple of crisp finishes. It happened away to Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and once more against Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal stemmed from an exquisite effort, arced right inside the upright from the edge of the area. For his second was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he pounced on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

Is It Sustainable?

Reason suggests otherwise. During the latest victory, the opposition had more efforts and more shots on target. The team has secured their last eight victories by just one goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those matches.

A statistical correction could be the biggest rival Villa have to face in the near future. Their key man, surely, cannot keep on drilling the football into the net's top corner indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Could it be an alternative path where, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Important figures could still rediscover their best form.

• The main striker may begin to adding to his goal tally.
• The attacking talent may rediscover the player he was in Germany.
• The defensive duo will eventually come back from the treatment room, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable defence.

This could contain the possibility of a genuine bid, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on one man.

Enjoying the Ride

But then, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable the team would sit third at Christmas. And most definitely earlier this season, no one envisioned Rogers now would be at the forefront of a title charge and appearing as an essential player for the national team.

The current run is to be savoured for the very reason that it seems so surreal. As Rogers stood in front of the Villa faithful when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.