A-League: Brisbane Roar begin life under new coach Robbie Fowler with tough trip to Perth Glory

Perhaps it’s the first-up clash with Perth Glory, or the fact it’s been a while between drinks, but Robbie Fowler is content that few rate Brisbane Roar as genuine A-League contenders.

Fowler got his A-League coaching career off to the best possible start in the FFA Cup.

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Brisbane Roar coach Robbie Fowler is pleased his new-look side are still flying “under the radar” despite a strong pre-season.

The Roar kick off their A-League campaign on Sunday against Perth Glory at HBF Park.

It’s a tough start for the revamped Roar, with the Glory having topped the table last season.

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Roar knocked over Sydney in the FFA Cup.

However, Brisbane have shown in the FFA Cup and the pre-season that they will be anything but the easybeats they were during their disastrous 2018-19 campaign.

In Fowler’s first competitive game in charge in August, the Roar beat last season’s A-League champions Sydney FC 2-0 in an FFA Cup round of 32 match.

Brisbane were beaten in the Cup round of 16 by eventual semi-finalists Central Coast Mariners but only in a penalty shootout after scores were locked at 2-2 at the end of extra-time.

The Roar also won the pre-season Surf City Cup, beating the Glory and Newcastle Jets despite fielding under-strength line-ups in both games.

Brisbane were rarely troubled in trials against NPL Queensland teams and regional select squads, but were held to a 2-2 draw by Peninsula Power last Saturday at AJ Kelly Park.

Despite his side’s consistent form, Fowler was bemused but content that few rated the Roar as genuine contenders.

Fowler got his A-League coaching career off to the best possible start in the FFA Cup.

“We’ve gone under the radar a bit but we’re happy with that,” the Liverpool legend said.

“You look at all the pundits, and everyone’s not writing us off, but no-one’s really giving us that much hope.

“We can go along quietly, start doing our business and as long as we play the right way, we’ll get results, we really will.

“(But) we got to Perth absolutely as underdogs. We’re playing against a great team with a great manager who have great individual players and play as well as anyone as a team. They proved that last year.”

The Roar are set to field a completely different 11 Sunday to the side that started in their final match of last season, with New Zealand international goalkeeper Max Crocombe set to start ahead of Brisbane’s reigning player of the year Jamie Young.

Likely Roar XI (3-5-2): Crocombe; Neville, Aldred (c), Gillesphey; McGing, O’Neill, Mauk, O’Shea, O’Toole; Inman, O’Donovan.