This Remarkable Golden Spell Drives Aston Villa's Improbable Championship Bid

It was 60 days ago that the Villa attacker stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused while Unai Emery scolded him over not reading a penetrating pass. During that period, with the team went six without a win, it wasn't clear whether his performances were a sign or the reason for the side's broader struggles.

In the latest match, however, the manager's outburst was entirely decidedly more positive. After the in-form star curled home his second to restore Villa's lead, Emery tore off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. The Birmingham club continued to a 10th successive win , having failed to win their opening six matches, now sit a mere three points off the leaders Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Title Contenders?

It remains a particularly tough proposition to address. The historical record, a general sense of this institution, suggests not. Additionally, they have not been completely commanding this season, while the positive results have stacked up.

Per Opta, in only two games has the side had an xG more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a team that have strung together ten consecutive victories, the Villans seem curiously susceptible – but at the moment the fine lines are falling their way.

The Rogers Recipe

The current approach seems to be to engage in a shootout with rivals and wait for Rogers to rescue them with two crisp finishes. It happened away to Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and again when facing the Red Devils.

His opener stemmed from an exquisite effort, bent precisely inside the upright from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he pounced on a pass from Watkins.

How Long Can This Continue?

Logic says not. In the recent win, the opponents registered a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. They have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those matches.

A statistical correction might be the greatest opponent they must confront in the near future. The forward, almost certainly, cannot keep on blasting the ball into the top corner week in, week out.

A Case for Belief

Perhaps there is another reality in which, instead of luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players may yet rediscover their best form.

• Ollie Watkins might resume adding to his goal tally.
• The attacking talent could transform into the player he was in Germany.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually regain fitness, bolstering a sometimes shaky defence.

Maybe within that lies the potential of a genuine bid, but they surely cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.

Relishing the Unlikely

However, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable the team would sit in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely back in October, no one envisioned Rogers by the end of the year would be spearheading a championship pursuit and appearing as an essential England player.

The current run must be cherished for the very reason that it seems so surreal. When Rogers faced the Villa faithful when the game ended conducting the cheers, he seemed to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.