Lauren Hemp ‘a role model for every player’

Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor said Lauren Hemp was a “role model” after she inspired her team’s third comeback win in the space of a week.

Hemp scored the equaliser before assisting Jill Roord’s winner as City beat Aston Villa 2-1 to move top of the Women’s Super League.

“She was everywhere today, she just gives such energy,” Taylor told BBC Two.

“When she has that mindset of doing everything with and without the ball, she’s such a role model for every player we have and of course the girls managed the game really well.”

Hemp was City’s lead creative force on a day where they were far from their best, with top scorer Khadija Shaw effectively neutralised by Villa.

Instead it fell to the England international winger, who provided most of the threat for City until she finally lobbed them level on 62 minutes – then laid off for Roord to smash home eight minutes later.

It means City are top of the WSL with 13 points from five games – seven of which have come from games where they trailed.

Villa opened the scoring at Joie Stadium through Gabi Nunes, after City also fell behind at Liverpool last week and against St Polten in the Champions League on Wednesday.

“I’m always about the performance,” said Taylor. “I thought we were fantastic in so many ways, even at half-time I said to the girls it was very good – we just did not control one action from Villa who are well coached, well organised, have some good players.

“I think that it was a great fightback in the second half. What I loved about it was the fact we stayed calm.

“Of course we have got to thank Lauren for a brilliant goal and a fantastic assist. That second goal was really special.”