West Ham United defender Grace Fisk has admitted she is "desperate" to go all the way in this season's Conti Cup ahead of the Hammers' semi-final clash with Chelsea.
A last-gasp header from captain Dagný Brynjarsdóttir was enough to see Paul Konchesky's side triumph over Liverpool in the last round, though the Hammers will be expecting a sterner test when they take on WSL leaders Chelsea on Thursday night.
The Blues will travel to the Chigwell Construction Stadium off the back of last weekend's crucial league win over Tottenham, and Fisk is hopeful the home support will help the hosts over the line against Emma Hayes' side.
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“It’s another big game – we’re desperate to get into a final so we really want to come out and give it everything," the 25-year-old told club media.
"We will need the fans back here with us, it was great to have so many here (last weekend) and I hope that they can come back on Thursday and be our 12th player."
While West Ham will have to be at their best if they are to get past Chelsea, Konchesky's side go into Thursday's game in fine form, having picked up their first ever point against Arsenal in the Women’s Super League last time out. Fisk played a crucial role in keeping a clean sheet against the Gunners as the two sides played out entertaining 0-0 draw in front of a record crowd in Dagenham on Sunday evening.
“I’m so proud of the girls after that performance,” she said, reflecting on last weekend's display. "Playing against Arsenal whether you’re at home or away is always going to be incredibly tough.
"We had a tough second 45 minutes where we really had to pull together to make sure that we kept the ball out of the net. The legs are sore; I’m not going to lie! We’ve had to work incredibly hard but it’s all worth it now to come away with a point – our first over Arsenal.
“This team is all about working hard for one another and we did that."
The Hammers had to put their bodies on the line to keep Arsenal at bay; the Gunners amassing a total of 21 shots over the course of the game. Nine of those shots were on target and Australian 'keeper Mackenzie Arnold was awarded Player of the Match by Sky Sports after pulling off a string of impressive saves.
“We know that Arsenal are top quality, but Konch (Paul Konchesky) said it to us before the game that we had nothing to lose, the pressure was all on them – and if we were able to take a point or three away from the game then that would have been amazing," Fisk said.
“I think we were fearless – we went in and tried to play our best football and defend for our lives. They have good players, but so do we, and we all work incredibly hard as a collective for one another. It was a great game for us!”
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