This Remarkable Golden Spell Propels Aston Villa's Unlikely Championship Bid

It was two months prior that the young forward was standing on the Sunderland turf, looking confused as the Villa manager admonished him over failing to anticipate a pass in behind. Back then, as Villa failed to win in six, it wasn't clear if his displays were a sign or the reason of Villa's wider issues.

This weekend, though, the manager's outburst proved to be much more joyous. After Rogers curled home his second strike to restore Villa's lead, the boss tore off his winter coat, opened his arms and roared. The Birmingham club continued to a tenth straight victory and despite not winning any of their first six games, now sit a mere three points behind the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Serious Challengers?

That’s an exceptionally difficult proposition to resolve. The historical record, a general sense of this institution, suggests not. Furthermore, they've rarely been entirely convincing during this run, while the victories have stacked up.

As per Opta, twice all season have Villa had an expected goals figure significantly higher than their opponents. For a team which has strung together ten consecutive victories, they appear weirdly vulnerable – yet currently the fine lines are falling their way.

The Winning Formula

Their recent policy seems to be to trade blows with rivals before hoping their star man to save the day with a couple of clinical strikes. This was the case at Leeds, it transpired in London, and once more versus Manchester United.

His opener came from a superb shot, curled right inside the upright from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slight scruffier version of the opener as he seized on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

How Long Can This Continue?

Logic says not. In the recent win, the opponents had more shots and more direct attempts. Villa have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in all except one of those games.

Regression to the mean could be the most significant challenge Villa must confront over the coming weeks. Their key man, almost certainly, will not continue to blasting his shots past despairing goalkeepers forever.

Potential for Growth

Maybe there exists a different scenario where, instead of results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players might still rediscover their best form.

• Ollie Watkins could start adding to his goal tally.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the player he resembled during his peak.
• The injured centre-backs will eventually regain fitness, fortifying a periodically leaky backline.

This could contain the potential for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.

Relishing the Unlikely

However, this was unforeseen. Few believed Aston Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And certainly two months ago, no one envisioned the midfielder now would be leading a hunt for the title while looking like a crucial England player.

This remarkable period is to be savoured for the very reason that it seems so surreal. As Rogers stood in front of the Villa faithful at the final whistle conducting the cheers, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. These spells are rare in football and should be relished.