The Astonishing Rich Vein of Form Propels Villa's Improbable Championship Bid

A mere two months prior that the young forward found himself on the Sunderland turf, looking confused while his coach berated him for missing a through-ball. At that point, as the club went six without a win, doubts remained whether his displays were a sign or a cause of Villa's wider issues.

This weekend, however, the sideline response was entirely far more favourable. As the in-form star curled home his second to restore his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician tore off his coat, opened his arms and bellowed. The team were on their way to a 10th successive win , despite not winning their initial half-dozen games, find themselves a mere three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Serious Hopefuls?

That’s a particularly tough query to resolve. History, the perceived status of the club, suggests not. Furthermore, they have not been entirely convincing this season, while the wins have piled up.

Per statistical analysis, twice all season has the side posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a club which has put together a ten-match winning streak, Villa seem weirdly vulnerable – yet right now the margins are swinging for them.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy appears to be to exchange chances with an opponent before hoping their star man to rescue them with a couple of precise efforts. It happened away to Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and again when facing United.

His opener came from a brilliant finish, arced precisely inside the upright from a wide position. For his second was essentially a slight scruffier version of goal number one capitalizing on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

Can It Last?

Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, the opposition had a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those fixtures.

A reversion to average could be the greatest opponent the club must confront as the season progresses. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot maintain thrashing the football past despairing goalkeepers forever.

A Case for Belief

Maybe there exists another reality in which, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players could still rediscover their best form.

• The centre-forward might resume scoring again.
• The winger might become the player he was in Germany.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to regain fitness, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable backline.

Perhaps there is in that the potential of a title challenge, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.

Enjoying the Ride

However, nobody expected this. Few believed the team would sit in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely two months ago, no one envisioned the young forward by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit and appearing as an essential England player.

This remarkable period is to be savoured exactly since it appears so improbable. As the hero faced the Villa faithful at the final whistle conducting the cheers, he seemed to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.