The Astonishing Golden Spell Propels Villa's Unlikely Push for Glory

A mere 60 days prior that the Villa attacker found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered as Unai Emery berated him for not reading a pass in behind. Back then, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear whether Rogers' form were an indicator or a cause of Villa's more general malaise.

In the latest match, however, the touchline reaction proved to be far more favourable. After the England international drilled in his second strike to restore his side's advantage, the boss tore off his jacket, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. Villa continued to a 10th successive win , having failed to win their initial half-dozen matches, are somehow only three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.

Are They Serious Challengers?

That’s a rather hard question to resolve. History, the perceived status of this institution, argues against it. Moreover, their performances haven't been entirely convincing in many games, despite the fact the positive results have stacked up.

Per statistical analysis, in only two games has the team had an xG more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a team which has put together a ten-match winning streak, Villa seem weirdly vulnerable – however right now the tight outcomes are falling their way.

The Winning Formula

The prevailing tactic seems to be to engage in a shootout with rivals and wait for their star man to save the day with some crisp finishes. It happened at Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and it happened against the Red Devils.

His opener came from a brilliant finish, curled just inside the goal frame from a wide position. For his second was essentially a somewhat messier replica of the opener capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.

Is It Sustainable?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opponents managed more shots and more direct attempts. They have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those games.

Regression to the mean may well be the biggest rival Villa have to face as the season progresses. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot maintain drilling the ball into the net's top corner indefinitely.

Potential for Growth

Could it be another reality in which, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs could still rediscover their best form.

• The centre-forward could start scoring again.
• The attacking talent might become the force he resembled during his peak.
• The injured centre-backs are due to come back from the treatment room, fortifying a sometimes shaky backline.

Perhaps there is in that the seeds for a sustained push, but they surely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Savoring the Moment

However, this is a surprise. Few believed Aston Villa would be in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely earlier this season, nobody thought Rogers by the end of the year would be leading a hunt for the title and appearing as a crucial England player.

The current run should be enjoyed precisely because it appears so improbable. When the match-winner faced the home supporters at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These spells are rare in football and should be relished.