Amalie Thestrup is eager for Bristol City to build on their performance at home to Arsenal when they travel to West Ham today.

The Robins were beaten 2-1 by Jonas Eidevall's side before the international break but it was a far improved team display compared to the 5-0 loss at Manchester City in their previous outing.

And Thestrup, who has scored two goals in four Women's Super League matches this season, believes they can be tough opponents for anyone in the division.

The striker, 28, told LiveScore: "The Arsenal game was a good one for us in the sense that we showed we can be a team that's hard to beat — and that's our priority.

"But we've also proved we can score goals. So if we defend like we did against Arsenal, we can make it really tough for all our opponents in the league.

"We can take a lot from that game because we showed what we're capable of when we work together.

"And we wanted to prove the City result was a one-off. So I think there's been a real shift in mentality [in the dressing room] as the Arsenal game was a more accurate representation of us."

Opportunity awaits

Thestrup spent part of last season on loan at West Ham and believes the clash with her former employers is the perfect opportunity for the Robins to get on the front foot.

She said: "West Ham are a team who want to have possession and attack, they have speed both up front and at the back.

"I expect them to come out and make it hard for us — but we expect to do the same.

"I think it'll be a very good game, a tight game between two similar teams.

"Of course, we want to have more possession because it's something we're capable of.

"I expect us to get higher up the pitch, be much more on the front foot and try to take control of the game."

Momentum shift

Robins boss Lauren Smith will be well aware her team need to start picking up points to maintain their WSL status after four consecutive defeats — and Thestrup thinks a win could spark a run of form.

The four-cap Denmark international added: "We saw it in the WSL last season, some teams just got on a roll. 

"Momentum is very important in this league, so the West Ham game could shift ours.

"But from the beginning of the season we've talked about not getting too high on the highs or too low on the lows. 

"We're just focusing on improving every game because it's a long season."