Robbie Fowler was effusive in his praise for his Brisbane Roar side as they produced a dominant display to defeat Western Sydney Wanderers 3-1 and move into fifth place on the A-League ladder.
However, he was scathing of referee Chris Beath and the match officials, questioning whether an agenda existed against his team.
Beath showed Fowler a yellow card midway through the second half – the former Liverpool striker’s second in as many games – and the Roar boss was left fuming in his post-match press conference.
“I’m not sure whether there is an agenda with the referees against us… but we’re not getting any help from them, I thought he (Beath) was bang average.”
“When your being told to sit down because you’re asking too many questions, I think that’s poor” Fowler stated. “I get frustrated… there seems to be a certain arrogance… All managers will get frustrated when you try to talk to the officials but they give you nothing back.”
Fowler had witnessed probably Brisbane’s most complete display of the season, which deserved better than the disappointing 8,349 attendance figure, with Scott McDonald notching his maiden goals for the club with a first-half double.
The former Celtic forward swivelled in the box and slotted past Wanderers keeper Daniel Lopar after just three minutes then made it 2-0 on 38 minutes with a close range finish that was initially ruled out for offside before VAR intervened and overturned the decision.
Fowler was quick to praise McDonald claiming he had been a ‘breath of fresh air’ since his arrival from Western United back in January.
“We needed someone to come in and have that character to lift the lads, and all he’s been lacking is the goals”.
McDonald was denied the chance to claim a hatrick when the Roar were awarded a penalty after defender Matt Jurman felled Brad Inman in the box. Jay O’Shea stepped up and sent Lopar the wrong way to claim his first A-League goal.
It was a meek display from a Wanderers side who had come into the game buoyed by an impressive 1-0 victory over neighbours Sydney FC.
They had managed to get a foothold back in the game early in the second half when striker Mitch Duke halved the deficit with a well-taken strike to score for the fifth consecutive A-League game. It took his total to 11 for the season.
Wanderers coach Jean-Paul de Marigny had little complaints with the result. “They’re a decent side, as we know, they’re a good passing side and to be fair they pressed us really high early and they had good energy about them and I felt we didn’t match that” he conceded.
Wanderers travel to Melbourne City next weekend looking for three points to keep them in the battle for the top six. As the A-League season enters its business end, the Roar will be hoping for another win at the Suncorp as they entertain rock bottom Central Coast Mariners.
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
Protected species were muscat and Arnold , mates in the media mafia helps them .
Adam Cattell
Roar Pro
JB- take your point (and agree) with the merit in remonstrating with the officials. I’m not too sure though if it ‘for the cameras’, think RF is genuinely frustrated with the standard of officialdom in the A League since his arrival. Too be fair he isn’t the first to have a pop! Cheers, Adam
jbinnie
Guest
Adam - First all there was no malice intended by using your 'pro" title. Whilst I accept your logic re. "managers" having to vent their feelings it still does not explain why they choose to do it with a "fourth official" who, after all, is only there as a sub. for the 3 main officials handling the game. You see it is some years since I was pulled into line by an extremely well qualified coach who asked me why I shouted at my players from the sideline. You see his logic was that a coach gets x amount of hours during the training week to get his message across, and if he can't achieve that then it is his coaching prowess that comes under scrutiny. I may be a bit cynical but I can't help but think there is another reason for these "sideline theatrics" and that of course is the presence of TV cameras. No? Cheers jb.
snoopy011
Guest
Fowler cops a yellow card two weeks in a row. Where were similar responses by refs over the years when Muscat's and Arnold's behavior was worse than anything Fowler has done this season.
Adam Cattell
Roar Pro
Hello JB, Firstly the term 'Roar Pro' is not a title I bestowed upon myself! I have never managed, but would imagine it to be a pretty stressful gig. Perhaps a manager may after a perceived injustice, may need to 'vent' and the unfortunate fourth official usually takes the brunt of this. Re: Fowler, he has had a running battle with officials most of the season, and has been quite scornful over their abilities. It was still a little surprising though after what had been such a good Roar display, to hear him launch such a withering assessment. I think Robbie feels he is getting some rough treatment as a 'Johnny Foreigner' and it seems to have ruffled his feathers.
jbinnie
Guest
Adam - As a "Roar pro" you may care to explain something that has been bugging me since they moved "managers" from the grandstands to the touchline. What does a manager hope to achieve by arguing some relative point (in the manager's mind) with a fourth official who, as an official, has little or no connection with what is happening on the field of play.???? I await your view with interest. Cheers jb.