BIRCHAM - I'M MISUNDERSTOOD
QPR midfielder Marc Bircham believes his reputation is earning him harsh treatment from referees.
Bircham is known as one of the most fiery players outside the top flight, and he rarely shies away from a tackle or from offering his opinion to the officials.
And after he was denied what appeared a clear penalty by referee Keith Stroud during the 2-1 win over Ipswich last night, Bircham is beginning to wonder whether the officials are getting their own back on him.
"When it comes to penalty decisions, I think the referees see it's me and think 'I won't bother!'," he joked.
"(Ipswich midfielder) Ian Westlake tripped me. I told the referee that he should have booked me if he didn't think it was a penalty.
"He said that it wasn't a dive, but that he couldn't be certain it was a penalty as he was looking through a crowd of players.
"I had a similar appeal turned down at Hull on Saturday. Perhaps it is just my luck."
Bircham, 27, has formed a promising central-midfield partnership with Tommy Doherty, who enjoyed a fine home debut following his summer move from Bristol City.
Ipswich boss Joe Royle, meanwhile, admitted his side had been out-muscled by QPR in the first half, although the Suffolk side improved after the break and were lifted by ex-Swindon striker Sam Parkin's first goal for the club.
Bircham admitted Rangers' physical strength was one of their assets.
He continued: "Being aggressive is not something you can teach - you either are or you aren't.
"But we have Georges Santos and Dan Shittu at the back, Tommy and myself in the centre, Paul Furlong up front and Martin Rowlands and Gareth Ainsworth - who both like a tackle - on the wings."
Kevin Gallen and Rowlands scored the goals in the first half as Ipswich failed to handle Rangers' fearsome tempo.
Playing with such pace and intensity at home is likely to unsettle many sides in the Coca-Cola Championship this term, but Bircham recommends that Ian Holloway's men change their style away from Loftus Road.
"I think we played really well against Ipswich, but we could have kept possession a bit more," Bircham said.
"We always try to attack. It works at home but sometimes we should maybe slow it down and keep the ball better when we go away."
