'The start of something special': Fowler says Roar revolution begins with FFA Cup

Robbie Fowler thinks there’s something special brewing in Queensland, and Brisbane Roar could soon be dreaming of greatness again.

Roar fans were given a positive first impression of life under the ex-Liverpool great in their shock 2-0 win over Sydney FC in the FFA Cup 2019 Round of 32 at the start of August.

But Fowler, 44, has marked Wednesday’s Round of 16 clash with Central Coast Mariners – the once-lethal Premier League marksman’s first match at home – as the true beginning of what could be a famous era for the three-time Hyundai A-League Champions.

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The Englishman also called upon Roar fans to rally behind the Queenslanders as the club prepares for their first Round of 16 match since the inaugural 2014 competition.

“We know how passionate the Brisbane Roar fans can get,” Fowler said on Tuesday. “I think on their day, I’m yet to see a set of supporters quite as vocal and raucous as Brisbane.

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“Hopefully this game will be the start of something special. [We need to] get all the fans in and get them right behind the team because we need them, we really do.

“We had a fantastic result beating the champions at their place but we know that this next game will be even tougher.”

Having each endured miserable campaigns of lowest order last time out, Brisbane and Central Coast will be desperate to put a stake in the ground in Wednesday night’s clash at Dolphin Stadium.

Alen Stajcic’s Mariners secured their Round of 16 ticket and showed signs of improvement themselves in their 2-0 defeat of local rivals Maitland in the Round of 32.

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“It’s got the makings of the great game,” Fowler added. “Staj [Stajcic] at Central Coast will have them well drilled.

“Both teams will be giving everything to go through.”

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