Unstoppable Hemp extends City's impressive WSL run

In-form Lauren Hemp inspires yet another Manchester City comeback with goal and assist in 2-1 win over Aston Villa

Lauren Hemp with her Player of the Match trophy. Credit: Manchester City.

Lauren Hemp is Manchester City. There are very few players in the sort of form City’s winger is enjoying at the moment and even fewer who can carry their team to a win like she can.

Hemp’s goal and assist in the 2-1 comeback win over Aston Villa took her season tally to four goal contributions in five WSL matches. Alongside teammate Khadija Shaw, it's the most return in the competition so far.

Going into Sunday’s game, Hemp had created 16 chances in the WSL, six more than any other player this season (Opta).

Hemp became the youngest player in WSL history to score 50 goals at just 24 years and 60 days a couple of weeks ago. Last season, her 19 goal involvements only trailed Shaw (24) in the league, and in many ways, the two have established themselves as the standard setters for production for forwards in the WSL. Though Shaw notches goals like no other and plays like an almost unstoppable force, the Jamaican can be stopped, as Villa showed, nullifying her scoring threat with a narrow, low block at the Joie Stadium.  

Hemp, on the other hand, was a driving force for City and inspired her team’s comeback win against Villa. City lead the league for points won from losing positions, having picked up seven points in the WSL after trailing in games. Hemp has scored or assisted in two of the three games in which City were losing.

City had to fight back after a Gabi Nunes goal on the counter attack caught them sleeping in the 20th minute. Hemp’s energy never wavered and she was busy trying to find the equaliser as soon as City fell behind. City’s best chance of the first half came from Hemp spotting the run of Jill Roord and whipping in a cross that the midfielder was inches away from steering past Villa goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo.

Hemp is one of six players in City’s leadership group, which also includes Roord, Shaw, Laura Coombs, Laia Aleixandri, and captain Alex Greenwood. The added responsibility has only made Hemp more energised on the pitch and added to her grit and determination at both ends.

Take City’s equaliser. An overhit cross that tempts D'Angelo to come off her line is punched towards the path of Hemp. When others would snatch an effort towards a stranded goal, Hemp controls the ball with one glance of her head and lobs a flick before D'Angelo could get back. 

The go-ahead goal soon after demonstrated one of Hemp’s best assets, her ability to dribble and take on defenders as well as her selflessness, a key characteristic in every great leader. Weaving out of several Villa players, Hemp has the understanding to utilise the space her threat creates, cutting back to the unmarked Roord just inside the box, whose 12-yard finish put City in the lead. 

“From last season, I really clicked with her [Hemp] on the pitch,” said Roord in her post-match interview with BBC Sport. “She’s very easy for me to play with because I just have to pass her the ball, and she does all the work.” 

“She’s an amazing player, and we work really well on the left side. I miss that and am happy to play with her again.”

Even when City seemed to grasp a sense of control, Hemp's selfless nature was still on display. 

In the 86th minute, when she drove away with the ball from the edge of her team’s box and into the Villa half, sitting a Villa player down with a piece of skill in the process before retaining possession and halting any pressure. A couple of seconds later, she did it again, winning a free-kick after being pulled down. When City are under pressure Hemp steps up to absorb it and put her teammates at ease.

“Lauren was everywhere today,” said City manager Gareth Taylor in his post-match interview. “She just gives such energy, and when she has that mindset of doing everything, with and without the ball, she [is] just such a role model for every player we have. 

When the moment to be counted for without the ball came, Hemp didn't shrug either—winning all her tackles and all but two of her 14 duels (FotMob). 

This was City far from their best; the seismic win against Barcelona is still taking some time to recover from mentally and physically, and their slow starts since then have shown. But having a relentless, driving force in Hemp, who has been at the heart of a side that has won 19 of their last 21 matches in the WSL since last November, makes all the difference.