Bircham: QPR fans need to intimidate Chelsea | Radio talkSPORT Marc Bircham believes intimidating Chelsea’s players on Sunday is the key to QPR recording their first home win of the season. Chelsea travel to Loftus Road for the first time in the Premier League since January 1996 and the 33-year-old former midfielder knows the club's fans can play a big part. Bircham told QPR Podcast, 'Open All R's': “The key will be to make it really hostile for Chelsea. They won’t be used to playing on a pitch as small as Loftus Road, where the fans are so close to the players. “ We’ve got to make it our Istanbul. If I was a player, that’s how I’d want it ” Marc Bircham "Right from the first whistle, they need to make it so hostile that they don’t get an early goal. We’ve got to make it our Istanbul. "If I was a player, that’s how I’d want it, make it horrible for them. This is the one game fans can do that and they can really play their part on Sunday.” Lifelong QPR fan Bircham played more than 150 league games for the Super Hoops and admits they need to start picking up maximum points at home to stay afloat this season. “We have to turn it around because if we’re going to stay up, our home record has to do it for us and I think it could be the start of that on Sunday.” To listen to the full interview with Marc Bircham, download 'Open All R's' - the new QPR Podcast. iReader
JAY: 'FANS CAN BE OUR TWELFTH MAN' Fit-again Jamie Mackie insists the importance of Sunday's West London derby against local rivals Chelsea won't be lost on the QPR squad. Rangers play host to the Blues for the first time in the top-flight since 1996 and Mackie has guaranteed the Hoops faithful that he and his team-mates are 'well aware' of what's at stake for the fans, as well as the players, this weekend. "These are the kind of games you want to be involved in," he told www.qpr.co.uk in an exclusive interview. "Everyone in our dressing room knows what it means for the Club in general, and especially the supporters. "It's such an important one for the fans. "The bragging rights are up for grabs for them and they'll want to go into work on Monday morning with their heads held high. "It's up to us to put on a performance that they'll be proud of and that's what we aim to do." Andre Villas-Boas' men currently occupy third spot in the Barclays Premier League, but Mackie believes the apparant gulf in class will mean nothing come 4.00pm on Sunday. "Chelsea are powering through sides at the moment, but it's a derby and you just never know," he said. "The fans will need to be our twelfth man, like they always are at Loftus Road. "I'm sure the atmosphere will be electric from the first whistle and if we can play to our full capabilities, it could be an absolute cracker."
Super...haven't got a goat but I know a donkey we could sacrifice and that would leave NW with a spare place in his current squad of 25
