Morgan Rogers' Golden Spell Fuels The Villans' Surprising Championship Bid

Just 60 days ago when Morgan Rogers stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed while his coach scolded him over not reading a penetrating pass. During that period, as the club went six without a win, doubts remained whether his performances were a symptom or the source of Villa's wider issues.

This weekend, in contrast, the manager's outburst was entirely decidedly more positive. As the England international swept in his second to reinstate the lead for Villa, the boss tore off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. The team marched on to a tenth straight victory and after failing to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, are somehow just three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.

Are They Legitimate Challengers?

That’s a particularly tough question to address. The historical record, the traditional standing of this institution, suggests not. Furthermore, they've rarely been wholly dominant this season, despite the fact the victories have accumulated.

Per statistical analysis, on just two occasions has the side posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a club which has just won ten consecutive victories, the Villans seem curiously susceptible – yet at the moment the margins are swinging for them.

The Winning Formula

Their recent policy looks like to trade blows with the opposition and then rely on their star man to rescue them with two precise efforts. It happened at Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and once more against United.

His opener came from a superb shot, curled just inside the post from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of his first capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.

Can It Last?

Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, the opponents registered a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. They have won each of their last eight by a single goal. They’ve conceded in all but one of those games.

A statistical correction may well be the biggest rival the club will encounter over the coming weeks. Rogers, almost certainly, cannot maintain thrashing his shots into the top corner indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Perhaps there is a different scenario whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players may yet rediscover their best form.

• The main striker could start scoring again.
• The attacking talent could transform into the force he resembled in Germany.
• The injured centre-backs are set to return from injury, strengthening a sometimes shaky backline.

This could contain the seeds for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on one man.

Enjoying the Ride

Yet, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And certainly two months ago, no one envisioned the young forward as the year closed would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a crucial England player.

This winning streak must be cherished precisely because it feels so unlikely. As Rogers faced the North End after the match leading the celebrations, it was clear to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. Such periods do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.