Brisbane Roar coach Robbie Fowler hits out at referees after yellow card frenzy against Wanderers

Frustrated Roar coach Robbie Fowler insists his side ‘isn’t dirty’ and can’t understand why A-League referees are brandishing bookings yet aren’t open to explaining the logic behind their decision.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 06: Coach Robbie Fowler (right) congratulates Scott McDonald after he comes to the bench during the round 22 A-League match between the Brisbane Roar and the Western Sydney Wanderers at Suncorp Stadium on March 06, 2020 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)

Brisbane Roar coach Robbie Fowler has slammed the “arrogance” of A-League referees and hit back at criticism of his “Brexit-ball” team that are closing in on a finals berth.

The Roar’s 3-1 home win over Western Sydney Wanderers on Friday night was arguably Brisbane’s best performance of the season in their push to cement a top-six spot.

And while delighted with his side’s Suncorp Stadium display, Fowler was unhappy with referee Chris Beath.

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Robbie Fowler was delighted with the Roar’s win over the Wanderers.

For the second match in succession Fowler was shown a yellow card for dissent as his frustrations again boiled over.

“We’ve had 10 fouls in a game and four of them have been yellow cards,” the Roar boss said.

“We’re not a dirty team. Two of the yellow cards weren’t yellow cards.

“I’m not sure whether there’s an agenda with the referees certainly against us because that’s a few times now where we’ve been up against it … but we’re not getting any help from the referees.

“You can see yourself, some of the decisions are wrong, and when you’re asking questions, and when you’re getting told to sit down because you’re asking too many questions, that’s poor, it really is.

The Roar weren’t the only ones to get on Chris Beath’s wrong side.

“I get frustrated because there’s a certain arrogance. Not just myself, managers all over this A-League will get frustrated when you try to talk to the (match) officials, and they give you nothing back.

“I didn’t think he (Beath) had a good game but I hope it doesn’t gloss over the fantastic performance and the magnificent result we had.”

The performance continued the Roar’s resurgence.

They have lost just two of their past 11 matches to have lifted themselves into the top six after being second last on the ladder in late December.

“We probably didn’t get the plaudits we deserved at the start of the (season) because we never had the results,” Fowler said.

A Scott McDonald double get Roar on track for the finals.

“People can say whatever they want - we know as a coaching staff we know how to play the game.

“Our boys deserve a lot of credit because I think they’ve been up against it since day one.

“Whether it’s because there’s an English manager here … everyone goes on about this ‘Brexit-ball’ or this ‘Brexit’ football, which is ridiculous.

“People saying that we park the bus … we have more entries into the final third than any team, so I think that if you’re a team that do park the bus then you don’t get those stats.”