It was 60 days ago that Morgan Rogers was standing on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed as the Villa manager admonished him over missing a through-ball. During that period, with the team endured a six-game winless run, the question was if Rogers' form were a symptom or the reason for Villa's more general malaise.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
On Sunday, though, the touchline reaction was decidedly more positive. As the in-form star curled home his brace-sealing goal to reinstate the lead for Villa, Emery ripped off his jacket, opened his arms and bellowed. The team were on their way to a 10th successive win , after failing to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, find themselves only three points off the leaders Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Serious Hopefuls?
This is a particularly tough query to resolve. The historical record, the traditional standing of this institution, argues against it. Moreover, they've rarely been wholly dominant in many games, while the positive results have piled up.
Per statistical analysis, twice all season have Villa had an xG more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a side which has just won ten consecutive victories, they appear weirdly vulnerable – however right now the margins are swinging for them.
The Winning Formula
Their recent policy seems to be to trade blows with the opposition and wait for Rogers to save the day with a couple of crisp finishes. It happened against Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and once more against Manchester United.
His opener stemmed from a superb shot, arced just inside the post from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slight scruffier version of his first as he seized on a setup by his strike partner.
“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Logic says not. Against United, the opponents registered more shots and more shots on target. The team has secured their last eight victories by a single goal. They have allowed goals in all except one of those games.
A statistical correction might be the biggest rival the club will encounter over the coming weeks. Their key man, surely, cannot keep on blasting his shots past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.
A Case for Belief
Could it be another reality whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs might still find their top level.
- The centre-forward might resume adding to his goal tally.
- The attacking talent may rediscover the player he resembled in Germany.
- The defensive duo are set to return from injury, strengthening a periodically leaky defence.
Perhaps there is in that the seeds of a genuine bid, but they surely cannot keep relying on one man.
Enjoying the Ride
Yet, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely earlier this season, few could imagine the young forward by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a title charge while looking like a vital Three Lions star.
This winning streak is to be savoured exactly since it seems so surreal. As the hero stood in front of the Villa faithful after the match leading the celebrations, it was clear to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are rare in football and must be appreciated.
