Morgan Rogers' Golden Spell Fuels Villa's Surprising Championship Bid

It was eight weeks in the past that the young forward stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused while the Villa manager berated him for missing a penetrating pass. At that point, with the team failed to win in six, doubts remained if his displays were an indicator or the source for Villa's broader struggles.

In the latest match, though, the sideline response proved to be much more joyous. After Rogers swept in his second to reclaim the lead for Villa, the boss tore off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. Villa marched on to a tenth straight victory and after failing to win any of their first six fixtures, find themselves a mere three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Genuine Challengers?

That’s a rather hard query to resolve. Past precedent, a general sense of Villa, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they've rarely been wholly dominant during this run, despite the fact the victories have stacked up.

Per statistical analysis, on just two occasions has the team registered an xG more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a team which has strung together 10 in a row, they seem strangely fragile – however currently the fine lines are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy looks like to engage in a shootout with the opposition and then rely on their star man to bail them out with two crisp finishes. It happened away to Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and again versus United.

Rogers' first goal stemmed from a superb shot, arced precisely inside the upright from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he seized on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

How Long Can This Continue?

Common sense dictates no. Against United, the opponents registered more shots and more direct attempts. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those games.

A reversion to average could be the biggest rival Villa will encounter as the season progresses. Their key man, almost certainly, will not continue to drilling the ball past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Maybe there exists a different scenario where, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs might still rediscover their best form.

• The main striker might resume scoring again.
• The attacking talent may rediscover the force he resembled during his peak.
• The injured centre-backs are set to regain fitness, bolstering a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Perhaps there is in that the seeds of a genuine bid, but they surely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.

Savoring the Moment

But then, nobody expected this. Few believed the team would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And certainly two months ago, nobody thought the young forward now would be leading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a crucial Three Lions star.

The current run must be cherished precisely because it seems so surreal. When the hero positioned himself before the home supporters at the final whistle conducting the cheers, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form do not happen often and must be appreciated.