Morgan Rogers' Rich Vein of Form Fuels Villa's Improbable Push for Glory

It was 60 days ago that Morgan Rogers found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused while Unai Emery scolded him for not reading a through-ball. At that point, as Villa failed to win in six, the question was if his performances were a symptom or a cause for Villa's wider issues.

In the latest match, however, the sideline response proved to be much more joyous. When the England international drilled in his brace-sealing goal to restore his side's advantage, the boss discarded his jacket, opened his arms and bellowed. The team continued to ten wins in a row , having failed to win their initial half-dozen matches, are somehow just three points behind the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Serious Title Contenders?

It remains an exceptionally difficult query to answer. The historical record, the perceived status of Villa, argues against it. Furthermore, they have not been wholly dominant this season, even as the victories have piled up.

As per Opta, on just two occasions has the side posted an xG significantly higher than the opposition. For a team which has just won 10 in a row, they seem weirdly vulnerable – yet currently the margins are going in their favour.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy appears to be to trade blows with an opponent and then rely on their talisman to rescue them with two precise efforts. It happened away to Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and again versus United.

The initial strike came from a brilliant finish, bent right inside the post from the edge of the area. For his second proved to be a somewhat messier replica of goal number one capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.

Can It Last?

Logic says not. During the latest victory, the opposition managed more shots and more shots on target. The team has won each of their last eight by a single goal. They have allowed goals in all except one of those fixtures.

A statistical correction might be the greatest opponent they will encounter in the near future. The forward, in all likelihood, will not continue to drilling the football past despairing goalkeepers forever.

Reasons for Optimism

Maybe there exists a different scenario whereby, rather than luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures may yet rediscover their best form.

• Ollie Watkins may begin to scoring again.
• The attacking talent may rediscover the player he resembled during his peak.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to regain fitness, bolstering a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Perhaps there is in that the potential for a sustained push, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

However, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely back in October, nobody thought Rogers now would be spearheading a hunt for the title and appearing as a crucial Three Lions star.

This remarkable period should be enjoyed precisely because it feels so unlikely. When the hero positioned himself before the Villa faithful when the game ended orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These runs of form do not happen often and should be relished.