Bircham’s banking on fan-tastic home help
QPR are relying on their supporters roaring them to victory against Aston Villa this afternoon.
More than 3,000 fans are expected to travel from the Midlands and pack the away end at Loftus Road – but Marc Bircham reckons the Rs fans will more than hold their own today.
The former Canada international played more than 150 times for Rangers between 2002 and 2007 and knows what type of an atmosphere the home fans can whip up.
Bircham, now a first-team coach under Ian Holloway, said: “Villa are a massive football club and they always travel in great numbers.
“Our fans, as I know only too well, seem to get louder when there’s a vocal away backing, so that should make for a good atmosphere.
“Hopefully that can work in our favour.
“You know you’re always in for a tough game against Steve Bruce’s sides.”
Holloway has tasted victory just once during his second spell in charge of QPR but Villa boss Bruce knows he will have his players pumped up for the visit of his side.
The former Birmingham boss said: “They are another club who have been in the Premier League, struggled, spent lots of money and made a lot of changes.
“They’ve now brought back Ian and with all of his enthusiasm and what he’s done at that club, they’re always going to be difficult to get the better of.
“Whether we’re playing clubs at the top end or the bottom end, they cause you different problems.”
Villa come into the game on the back of just two defeats in 10 games and Bruce has no new injury worries after the 1-0 defeat at Norwich on Tuesday night.
QPR crashed to their fifth straight loss at home to Derby on Wednesday night but could welcome back midfielder Jordan Cousins and striker Idrissa Sylla.
Despite that losing run, Bircham said: “We’ve got a fantastic game ahead to bounce back in.
“Hopefully we can build on Wednesday’s performance and get a positive result – that’s what we’re all striving for at the minute.
“I think the fans are seeing that we’re giving it a right good go by playing attacking football.
“All we need to do is start scoring some goals and getting some wins, it’s as simple as that.”
The Chelsea boss played the numbers game to stay top of the table on the back of a club record of 11 successive wins.
It was earned thanks to Diego Costa’s 13th goal of the season with their first effort on target in the first half.
But he also collected his first booking since September – he had four previously – which means he will be suspended for the Boxing Day visit of Bournemouth to the Bridge.
Costa was a powerful figure, always ready to attack and help out in defence as Palace made a decent fist of it.
This wasn’t vintage Chelsea. It was more a sleeves-rolled-up job because Palace refused to roll over.
In Jason Puncheon they had a willing warrior – but in the end Chelsea’s class told.
It is amazing to think that around this time last year Chelsea lost to Leicester to slip one point above the relegation zone, with Jose Mourinho leaving a few days later.
Now they will top the table over Christmas – and based on the previous four times this has happened they will go on and clinch the Premier League title.
Now the record of 14 wins-in-a-row, which Arsenal achieved between February and August 2002, is in their sights.
Manager Antonio Conte deserves huge credit for the turnaround.
Since the Italian’s switch to a back-three at Hull in October, Chelsea have been unstoppable, conceding just two goals.
Conte said: “It’s fantastic after one year to be top of the table after 11 wins in a row.
“I think to win 11 games in a row in this league is not simple.
“Starting this season, the manager must be a tailor and try and find the right fit for the team.
“For me it was not easy to arrive and understand very quickly the characteristics of my players. I needed a bit of time.
“I tried a different solution before changing the formation but I think the most important thing is our strong mentality.
“Also, hard work during the week, tactical work, physical work, analysis work, good food. You can work hard but if you do not have players who follow you it does not matter.
“To equal the record of 14 games? I am not a person who loves statistics. I do not like to see how many matches you have won.
“But this is my first season in England and it is fantastic for us to have played 17 games and to have won 14 of them. I want the future to be special for us.”
Palace packed their midfield to stem the tide, cutting Chelsea’s supply lines LUCKY 13: For scorer Diego Costa