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Just two months prior when the Villa attacker found himself on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered while Unai Emery scolded him for missing a penetrating pass. At that point, as the club endured a six-game winless run, the question was if his displays were a sign or the reason of the side's more general malaise.

“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 much more joyous. As the in-form star curled home his second to reclaim Villa's lead, the boss ripped off his coat, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club marched on to a tenth straight victory , despite not winning their initial half-dozen games, are somehow just three points behind the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Hopefuls?

It remains a particularly tough proposition to answer. The historical record, the perceived status of this institution, argues against it. Additionally, their performances haven't been wholly dominant in many games, even as the victories have accumulated.

Per Opta, on just two occasions have Villa registered an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a club who have put together a ten-match winning streak, they seem strangely fragile – however right now the tight outcomes are falling their way.

The Rogers Recipe

The prevailing tactic appears to be to trade blows with the opposition and then rely on Rogers to bail them out with two crisp finishes. This was the case against Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and it happened against United.

Rogers' first goal came from a brilliant finish, bent precisely inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal acted as a somewhat messier replica of goal number one as he seized on a pass from Watkins.

“Perhaps Rogers’ right foot is becoming like Arjen Robben’s left: just because you know he’s going to whip the ball into the top corner doesn’t mean you can stop him.”

Is It Sustainable?

Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, the opponents had a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. The team has secured their last eight victories by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all but one of those fixtures.

A reversion to average may well be the biggest rival Villa will encounter over the coming weeks. The forward, surely, cannot maintain blasting the ball past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Perhaps there is a different scenario in which, instead of results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures might still rediscover their best form.

• The centre-forward may begin to scoring again.
• Jadon Sancho may rediscover the player he was during his peak.
• The injured centre-backs are set to return from injury, fortifying a sometimes shaky defence.

Maybe within that lies the potential for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on one man.

Relishing the Unlikely

However, nobody expected this. Nobody thought the team would occupy third at Christmas. And certainly earlier this season, no one envisioned Rogers as the year closed would be leading a title charge while looking like a crucial Three Lions star.

The current run is to be savoured for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. When Rogers stood in front of the North End when the game ended conducting the cheers, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.