Lauren James took on new role for Emma Hayes during surprise Man City WSL title slip-up

Chelsea thrashed Bristol City 8-0 at Kingsmeadow on Sunday to take back control of the Women's Super League title race after Manchester City suffered a last-gasp defeat to Arsenal

Chelsea star Lauren James spent the last four minutes of Manchester City's eventual 2-1 loss to Arsenal attempting to commentate the chaotic events to her manager Emma Hayes over the phone.

League leaders Manchester City hosted third-placed Arsenal on Sunday afternoon, hours before Chelsea faced already relegated Bristol City. The Blues' dramatic 4-3 loss earlier in the week to Liverpool was billed as the end of the defending champion's title race, with Hayes conceding afterwards that the title was "done".

But despite City dominating Arsenal in the opening 45 minutes and duly going a goal clear through Lauren Hemp, an exhilarating second-half display from the Gunners ended in a four-minute brace for Swedish forward Stina Blackstenius. The result flipped the title race back on its head as Chelsea were handed a lifeline in their final trophy hunt under Hayes, which they took gleefully.

Hayes was driving to Kingsmeadow with assistant manager Denise Reddy for what would be the long-time boss' final home match of a glittering 12-year Chelsea tenure when news of Blackstenius' equaliser reached her.

"I didn't watch the game, I was driving here with Denise," Hayes revealed after her side's 8-0 rout of Bristol City on Sunday.

"I was actually on a call with LJ [Lauren James] to see if she was coming to the game and Denise screamed in my ear that a goal had gone in and we asked LJ to commentate for us for the last four minutes. And I was like 'Can't you?' and she was like (imitating a dead-pan James), 'Alright. Williamson... to....' and then it stopped.

"And then LJ was behind and then it was a bizarre situation where I was sat outside a FatBoyz, I was looking at everyone in FatBoyz, and I was thinking, what's going on? It's all a bit mental. And then the fans began cheering and it felt like a door was ajar. And it obviously was."

Guro Reiten's quartet of goals, followed by Aggie Beever-Jones' brace and goals from Sjoeke Nusken and Niamh Charles put Chelsea within three points of City with a game in hand, while also eclipsing City's superior goal difference by one. The performance was all the more remarkable given Chelsea are without key attacking players including striker Sam Kerr and James.

Image: Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images) Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

US-bound Hayes did not hide her emotions as the club celebrated her with a guard of honour and presentation for her final home match after the performance. Hayes issued a rallying cry over the ground's speakers to fans: "Let me be clear. It is not over. There is no time for sentimentality. All work drinks are cancelled, there is a title to be won.

"And you know what? That group of players taught me something so special this week, that you never ever give up and this is what it means to be Chelsea."

Later Hayes added: "We wanted to make sure it was a game to remember for the fans. It's emotional. I’ve spent a third of my life doing this. This has been my home, my family. My son has been born here. My dad died in the last year.

Image: Photo by Harriet Lander - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images) Photo by Harriet Lander - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

"It's a club that has been my entire heart. I look out tonight, I see these fans, I feel the love, I feel the love for the team and that’s all I’ve ever really wanted."

Chelsea face Tottenham Hotspur on 15 May, before travelling to Manchester United on the final day of the season while Manchester City face Aston Villa. Victory for the Blues in both while maintaining their superior goal difference (currently one goal clear of City) would almost certainly give Chelsea a fifth league title on the bounce and ensure Hayes leaves the club with one trophy in her final season.

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