This Remarkable Rich Vein of Form Propels Aston Villa's Improbable Title Charge

A mere 60 days in the past when the Villa attacker stood on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered while Unai Emery berated him over failing to anticipate a through-ball. At that point, as the club endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained whether his performances were a symptom or the reason of the side's more general malaise.

In the latest match, in contrast, the sideline response was entirely much more joyous. After Rogers swept in his brace-sealing goal to restore the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician ripped off his coat, opened his arms and roared. The Birmingham club marched on to a tenth straight victory and after failing to win their initial half-dozen matches, are somehow just three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Serious Title Contenders?

That’s a particularly tough question to resolve. The historical record, the perceived status of Villa, indicates otherwise. Moreover, they've rarely been wholly dominant this season, even as the wins have piled up.

As per the data, on just two occasions has the team had an xG more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a club which has strung together 10 in a row, they look weirdly vulnerable – yet currently the margins are swinging for them.

The Winning Formula

The prevailing tactic appears to be to exchange chances with rivals before hoping their star man to rescue them with some crisp finishes. This was the case against Leeds, it occurred in London, and once more versus Manchester United.

The initial strike stemmed from a superb shot, curled just inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. For his second acted as a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.

Can It Last?

Logic says not. In the recent win, the opponents had a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. They’ve conceded in all but one of those fixtures.

A statistical correction might be the greatest opponent the club will encounter as the season progresses. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot maintain blasting his shots into the net's top corner indefinitely.

Potential for Growth

Could it be another reality in which, rather than results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players may yet rediscover their best form.

• The centre-forward could start scoring again.
• The winger could transform into the force he showed during his peak.
• The defensive duo will eventually regain fitness, fortifying a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Perhaps there is in that the seeds of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

Yet, this was unforeseen. Few believed Aston Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt two months ago, no one envisioned the midfielder now would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit and appearing as an essential player for the national team.

The current run should be enjoyed for the very reason that it seems so surreal. When the match-winner faced the North End after the match orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.