Gold Coast game massive for Fury: Fowler

Robbie Fowler is quietly confident of erasing one of the lowest points of his
glittering career and kicking Gold Coast while they are down on Saturday night.
Fowler denied "revenge" was a word being used by North Queensland but freely
admitted the Fury were hungry to show just how much they'd improved since their
round two 5-0 humiliation at Skilled Park.
But the former Liverpool star is wary of a United backlash following their A-League
record 6-0 loss in Wellington.
"It will be massive for us. If we play one team and get beaten 5-0 and play them
again a few months later and win it will be a measure of how far we've come," the NQ
skipper said.
"Wellington have given Gold Coast a hiding and we know what that feels like, and
they always say beware of the wounded animal, so we'll be on our toes.
"We're under no illusions but the boys are quietly confident."
Fowler's optimism has been fuelled by NQ's maiden home win, 2-1 over Perth last
weekend, and just one loss in the past nine games.
The ex-England striker has six goals to his credit this season with the injury-hit
Fury but won't forget the embarrassment of the round two thumping, which prompted
outside calls for the club to gain FFA assistance.
"It was definitely (one of the lowest points in my career)," Fowler said on Friday.
"Especially being a new club in its second game of the season.
"We didn't play well that night but we've proved to people since that we're not as
bad as that was made out."
Now, it's the Coast under the gun with cost-cutting plans to cap Skilled Park's
crowd at 5000 drawing widespread indignation.
While still last on the A-League table, the Fury sit just three points behind sixth
place and are 10 off pace-setters Sydney FC with 15 rounds to go.
Fury coach Ian Ferguson will ensure his men pressure Gold Coast far more after
paying the price for giving the likes of Jason Culina, Joel Porter and Zenon
Caravella too much time and space in their first encounter which helped Shane Smeltz
to four goals.
The Phoenix and Central Coast have shown United, who have dipped to third, struggle
to keep possession and shape against a physical, close-checking game.
"We gave them too much respect and they gave us a good kick up the backside,"
Ferguson said.
"It sort of woke us up a bit.
"It was a learning curve and I think we've dealt with it OK."
Coast coach Miron Bleiberg has shown faith in reserve goalkeeper Scott Higgins by
picking him to start while Michael Thwaite will replace Kristian Rees (hip) in
central defence alongside Bas van den Brink.