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

It was 60 days in the past when the Villa attacker stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered as his coach admonished him over missing a penetrating pass. Back then, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained whether his displays were a sign or the source for Villa's wider issues.

In the latest match, though, the manager's outburst was far more favourable. As the in-form star curled home his brace-sealing goal to restore the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician discarded his coat, spread his arms and bellowed. The team marched on to ten wins in a row and after failing to win their initial half-dozen games, find themselves just three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Hopefuls?

That’s a particularly tough question to resolve. The historical record, the perceived status of this institution, suggests not. Additionally, their performances haven't been completely commanding in many games, even as the wins have stacked up.

Per Opta, on just two occasions have Villa posted an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a club who have put together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans seem weirdly vulnerable – yet at the moment the fine lines are falling their way.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy appears to be to trade blows with rivals and then rely on their talisman to bail them out with two clinical strikes. This was the case at Leeds, it occurred in London, and once more when facing Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal stemmed from a brilliant finish, curled right inside the upright from a wide position. The follow-up goal was essentially a somewhat messier replica of goal number one as he pounced on a pass from Watkins.

Can It Last?

Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, Manchester United had more shots and more shots on target. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those games.

A reversion to average may well be the biggest rival the club have to face over the coming weeks. The forward, surely, cannot maintain drilling the ball into the top corner forever.

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 return to peak condition.

• The main striker may begin to scoring again.
• The attacking talent may rediscover the player he was during his peak.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually regain fitness, fortifying a periodically leaky defence.

Perhaps there is in that the seeds for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt two months ago, no one envisioned the midfielder as the year closed would be spearheading a hunt for the title while establishing himself as an essential player for the national team.

This remarkable period should be enjoyed exactly since it feels so unlikely. When Rogers positioned himself before the North End after the match conducting the cheers, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. As he deserves to. Such periods are rare in football and must be appreciated.