The Astonishing Scoring Streak Fuels The Villans' Surprising Push for Glory

It was 60 days in the past that the young forward stood on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery scolded him for failing to anticipate a through-ball. During that period, as the club failed to win in six, the question was whether his displays were a symptom or the source of the team's broader struggles.

In the latest match, though, the sideline response was entirely far more favourable. When the in-form star drilled in his second to reinstate the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician discarded his jacket, opened his arms and bellowed. The team continued to ten wins in a row , after failing to win any of their first six matches, are somehow only three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Legitimate Title Contenders?

This is a particularly tough proposition to address. History, a general sense of Villa, suggests not. Additionally, they have not been completely commanding this season, despite the fact the positive results have accumulated.

As per the data, in only two games has the team registered an expected goals figure significantly higher than the other team. For a team which has strung together ten consecutive victories, the Villans seem strangely fragile – but at the moment the margins are falling their way.

The Reliant Strategy

The current approach seems to be to exchange chances with rivals and then rely on Rogers to bail them out with a couple of precise efforts. This occurred at Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and once more when facing Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal originated from an exquisite effort, arced precisely inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he pounced on a pass from Watkins.

How Long Can This Continue?

Reason suggests otherwise. During the latest victory, Manchester United registered more shots and more shots on target. Villa have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. They have allowed goals in all except one of those fixtures.

A reversion to average could be the greatest opponent Villa have to face in the near future. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot keep on drilling his shots past despairing goalkeepers forever.

A Case for Belief

Could it be a different scenario where, rather than results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs may yet return to peak condition.

• Ollie Watkins could start finding the net regularly.
• The winger might become the player he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to regain fitness, strengthening a periodically leaky defence.

Perhaps there is in that the seeds of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.

Savoring the Moment

However, this is a surprise. Few believed Aston Villa would be in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt back in October, nobody thought Rogers as the year closed would be at the forefront of a title charge while establishing himself as a vital player for the national team.

This winning streak must be cherished for the very reason that it appears so improbable. When Rogers positioned himself before the home supporters at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. As he deserves to. Such periods are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.