The Astonishing Rich Vein of Form Fuels Villa's Surprising Push for Glory

Just 60 days ago that the Villa attacker found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused as the Villa manager scolded him over missing a pass in behind. During that period, with the team endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear if his displays were an indicator or the source of Villa's broader struggles.

In the latest match, however, the sideline response was entirely much more joyous. When the England international drilled in his second strike to reinstate Villa's lead, the boss discarded his coat, opened his arms and bellowed. The Birmingham club marched on to a 10th successive win , despite not winning any of their first six games, now sit only three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Are They Legitimate Hopefuls?

It remains a rather hard proposition to address. The historical record, a general sense of this institution, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, their performances haven't been completely commanding this season, while the positive results have stacked up.

According to Opta, in only two games has the team posted an xG more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a side which has put together a ten-match winning streak, they seem weirdly vulnerable – however at the moment the fine lines are falling their way.

The Winning Formula

Their recent policy looks like to engage in a shootout with the opposition and wait for their talisman to rescue them with two precise efforts. This occurred at Leeds, it happened in London, and once more versus Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal came from a brilliant finish, curled just inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal was essentially a somewhat messier replica of goal number one capitalizing on a pass from Watkins.

Can It Last?

Common sense dictates no. Against United, the opposition had a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. The team has won each of their last eight by a single goal. They have allowed goals in all except one of those fixtures.

A statistical correction could be the greatest opponent the club will encounter as the season progresses. Rogers, surely, cannot keep on thrashing the football past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Could it be another reality where, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players might still rediscover their best form.

• The centre-forward may begin to finding the net regularly.
• The attacking talent could transform into the force he resembled in Germany.
• The defensive duo are set to return from injury, bolstering a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the possibility for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

Yet, nobody expected this. Few believed the team would be in the top three for the holidays. And certainly two months ago, few could imagine the midfielder now would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a crucial Three Lions star.

This winning streak must be cherished for the very reason that it seems so surreal. As the hero positioned himself before the North End after the match leading the celebrations, he appeared to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form do not happen often and should be relished.