Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City might be the current top four in the Barclays Women’s Super League, but Grace Fisk believes there is no reason why West Ham United cannot upset the established order.
The Hammers resume the 2022/23 season, after the festive break, by welcoming Manchester City to Chigwell Construction Stadium – with tickets still available to purchase here!
It will be a case of fifth facing fourth in Dagenham as the Irons look to close the gap on City. Paul Konchesky’s side sit four points behind the visitors, but a win would put the hosts in touching distance of their opponents.
For Fisk, the form shown by West Ham so far this season warrants their current position and, despite the vast resources enjoyed by the WSL’s very top teams, the defender knows the Hammers have the quality to break up the status quo.
“I was here a couple of years ago when we were fighting relegation and it’s not pleasant,” Fisk told whufc.com. “You feel stressed all the time and every single point matters. We had a really good group of girls but now we’re all really excited to be pushing at the right end of the table.
“It’s no secret that there is a difference between the top four and the rest of the league. You do see it in the men’s game but, more so in the women’s, that difference in money is massive.
“There is money in the game but I think for us, right now, fifth is a respectable position. We want to break into that top four group and push on as much as possible.”
The Irons were last in action in mid-December, as Fisk and her teammates secured a deserved 2-0 win away to Tottenham Hotspur to close out 2022.
It has been over a month since a last competitive match for West Ham, as a fixture postponement was required before the Christmas hiatus, and the defender is ready to get back out on the pitch and in the Claret and Blue.
She continued: “Everyone was able to get some time with their families and we had a slightly longer Christmas break than usual this season, which was really nice. We feel refreshed and it’s been nice to get a solid week of training and prepare for Manchester City.
"We’ve not played them yet this season, due to the scheduling, and they’re looking stronger and stronger in each game. They’re starting to find a bit of form so it’s going to be a good game.
“We’re at home, under the lights, which I personally really like. I’m excited for this game.”
The Irons have claimed five wins and endured five defeats in the league so far this season and, while Fisk is happy with the team’s overall position, admits that some of the performances could have been better in the first half of the campaign.
As City prepare to visit Chigwell Construction Stadium on Sunday, the centre-back is confident in the Hammers’ ability to improve and get even better.
“It’s been a decent start to the season,” she added. “There have been games where we probably felt like we should have got something, and didn’t, and maybe a game or two where we felt we had been a little lucky.
“But it’s about improving our performances, as a team and individually. I think we all feel some of our team performances could have been better and we know we’ll need to be at our best on Sunday.”
