Brisbane created a four-point buffer in sixth place with the gritty 1-0 win over Western United at Ballarat's Mars Stadium on Sunday, and are now just two points off fourth place and only five behind second-placed Melbourne City.

Fowler said his team deserved their recent results after a difficult start.

"Performances-wise we were OK without getting the results up obviously that we wanted and we required," he said.

"The ladder, it is what it is - there's plenty of points and there's plenty of games to go, we know we've just got to keep going, keep plugging along, and we're not guaranteed anything.

"I think what we will guarantee is we'll put in performances like that where we'll work our socks off every single week."

Fowler noted his team's close proximity to Adelaide and Wellington, but stopped short of saying his side would challenge for the top two.

"Of course we'll set our lads targets and we want them to go out there and perform," he said.

"I'm not going to sit here and say 'yes, we're going to do this, we're going to do that'."

Mirza Muratovic scored his second goal in as many games to secure Brisbane three points.

Brad Inman dispossessed Tomoki Imai then put the ball on a platter for the 20-year-old to power home the winner in the 61st minute.

United's Mark Rudan said his side could yet secure a finals berth.

"I think anybody can still make the top six," he said.

"The bottom teams, the way they're playing they're probably not getting results but ultimately anybody can get a run of games in this competition - we've seen that.

"Brisbane came from nowhere to get a run of games in and now they find themselves in the top six."

Despite having the bye, Sydney FC's hold on the premiers' plate was strengthened when Wellington defeated second-placed Melbourne City 1-0 at Auckland's Eden Park on Saturday.

English forward David Ball struck in the 58th minute to draw the Phoenix within three points of second-placed City.

The loss leaves City barely holding onto second spot. They remain one point ahead of Perth and 10 points behind Sydney, but have played three games more than the frontrunners.

Newcastle earned a late equaliser to draw 1-1 with Western Sydney on Saturday night.

Wanderers skipper Mitch Duke buried a fifth-minute penalty, before Matt Millar responded in the 74th minute to lift the Jets off the bottom of the table.

On Friday night, Adelaide United took a step towards cementing their top six berth with a 2-0 win over Central Coast.

The Reds scored twice in three minutes - George Blackwood hit a superb long-range strike in the 82nd minute.

Then, 15-year-old Mohamed Toure became the A-League's youngest ever goalscorer when he turned home Riley McGree's cutback two minutes later.

Sydney FC, Melbourne Victory and the Glory had the bye.

Australian Associated Press