The Astonishing Scoring Streak Propels The Villans' Unlikely Championship Bid

A mere 60 days ago when Morgan Rogers found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered as the Villa manager berated him for not reading a penetrating pass. During that period, as the club failed to win in six, it wasn't clear whether his displays were a symptom or the source of the side's more general malaise.

This weekend, in contrast, the touchline reaction was entirely much more joyous. When Rogers drilled in his second strike to reclaim Villa's lead, the boss tore off his coat, opened his arms and roared. The Birmingham club were on their way to ten wins in a row and after failing to win their initial half-dozen matches, now sit a mere three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Genuine Challengers?

This is a rather hard query to answer. The historical record, a general sense of the club, suggests not. Additionally, they've rarely been entirely convincing in many games, even as the victories have accumulated.

According to the data, on just two occasions has the side registered an xG notably superior than the other team. For a side who have put together 10 in a row, Villa seem weirdly vulnerable – however at the moment the fine lines are falling their way.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy appears to be to trade blows with the opposition and wait for Rogers to rescue them with a couple of precise efforts. It happened against Leeds, it occurred in London, and it happened when facing United.

The initial strike came from an exquisite effort, curled precisely inside the post from the edge of the area. For his second was essentially a somewhat messier replica of the opener as he seized on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

How Long Can This Continue?

Logic says not. During the latest victory, the opposition registered a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. The team has won each of their last eight by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all except one of those fixtures.

A statistical correction could be the most significant challenge Villa must confront over the coming weeks. Rogers, in all likelihood, cannot maintain thrashing the ball into the top corner indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Perhaps there is a different scenario where, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures may yet return to peak condition.

• Ollie Watkins may begin to scoring again.
• The winger may rediscover the player he showed in Germany.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually return from injury, bolstering a periodically leaky backline.

This could contain the potential for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

However, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Villa would be in a Champions League place in December. And certainly earlier this season, few could imagine the young forward by the end of the year would be leading a hunt for the title and appearing as a vital England player.

This winning streak should be enjoyed for the very reason that it appears so improbable. When the hero stood in front of the North End after the match orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. Such periods do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.