This Remarkable Scoring Streak Fuels Aston Villa's Surprising Championship Bid

A mere two months prior when Morgan Rogers found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed as his coach berated him for missing a through-ball. During that period, as the club went six without a win, it wasn't clear if Rogers' form were an indicator or the source of the side's broader struggles.

On Sunday, though, the manager's outburst proved to be decidedly more positive. As the in-form star swept in his second to reinstate the lead for Villa, the boss discarded his winter coat, opened his arms and roared. Villa continued to a 10th successive win , after failing to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, now sit just three points off the leaders Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Legitimate Hopefuls?

That’s a particularly tough proposition to resolve. Past precedent, a general sense of Villa, argues against it. Moreover, they've rarely been completely commanding this season, while the positive results have accumulated.

As per statistical analysis, twice all season has the team registered an xG significantly higher than the other team. For a club who have just won ten consecutive victories, the Villans appear strangely fragile – yet currently the margins are falling their way.

The Rogers Recipe

The prevailing tactic appears to be to engage in a shootout with rivals and wait for their talisman to rescue them with a couple of precise efforts. It happened away to Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and it happened against United.

The initial strike stemmed from a superb shot, bent right inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he pounced on a pass from Watkins.

Is It Sustainable?

Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, Manchester United registered more shots and more direct attempts. They have won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in all but one of those fixtures.

A statistical correction may well be the biggest rival they have to face in the near future. The forward, almost certainly, cannot keep on thrashing the football into the top corner indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Perhaps there is a different scenario in which, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs could still return to peak condition.

• The centre-forward might resume scoring again.
• Jadon Sancho might become the player he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually return from injury, fortifying a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Perhaps there is in that the possibility of a title challenge, but they surely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.

Relishing the Unlikely

But then, this was unforeseen. Few believed the team would sit third at Christmas. And certainly two months ago, nobody thought the young forward as the year closed would be at the forefront of a title charge while looking like a crucial England player.

This remarkable period must be cherished precisely because it feels so unlikely. As the match-winner positioned himself before the Villa faithful at the final whistle leading the celebrations, he seemed to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.