This Remarkable Scoring Streak Fuels Villa's Unlikely Push for Glory

Just 60 days in the past when Morgan Rogers found himself on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered while his coach scolded him for failing to anticipate a through-ball. Back then, with the team endured a six-game winless run, the question was if his displays were a symptom or the reason for the side's wider issues.

This weekend, though, the manager's outburst was entirely decidedly more positive. When the England international curled home his brace-sealing goal to reclaim Villa's lead, the boss tore off his jacket, opened his arms and bellowed. The team marched on to a tenth straight victory and after failing to win any of their first six games, now sit only three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Serious Title Contenders?

It remains a rather hard proposition to resolve. Past precedent, a general sense of Villa, argues against it. Furthermore, their performances haven't been entirely convincing in many games, even as the positive results have piled up.

Per statistical analysis, twice all season have Villa posted an expected goals figure significantly higher than their opponents. For a side that have strung together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans seem weirdly vulnerable – however currently the margins are swinging for them.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy seems to be to trade blows with an opponent before hoping their star man to save the day with some clinical strikes. This was the case against Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and it happened versus the Red Devils.

Rogers' first goal stemmed from an exquisite effort, bent precisely inside the post from a wide position. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of the opener capitalizing on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

Is It Sustainable?

Common sense dictates no. Against United, the opponents registered more efforts and more direct attempts. Villa have won each of their last eight by just one goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those matches.

Regression to the mean might be the most significant challenge the club have to face over the coming weeks. The forward, in all likelihood, will not continue to drilling the ball into the top corner forever.

Reasons for Optimism

Perhaps there is a different scenario whereby, rather than results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs may yet find their top level.

• The centre-forward could start scoring again.
• The winger could transform into the performer he resembled during his peak.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to regain fitness, fortifying a periodically leaky defence.

Maybe within that lies the seeds of a title challenge, but they surely can continue to depend solely on one man.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Villa would sit third at Christmas. And most definitely earlier this season, nobody thought the midfielder as the year closed would be spearheading a championship pursuit while looking like a crucial player for the national team.

This remarkable period is to be savoured precisely because it appears so improbable. When the match-winner positioned himself before the home supporters after the match orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.