Perth Glory got the better of testing conditions to take first place in the A-League with a 1-0 win over Newcastle Jets.

Showers fell before kick-off resulting wet surface that both sides struggled to cope with in the opening exchanges.

However, Glory were quicker to adapt and struck just before the break when substitute Branko Jelic chested home from close range after Todd Howarth's rasping volley was parried into his path by Jets keeper Ben Kennedy.

Robbie Fowler came close to scoring his first goal for Glory soon after the break as the hosts continued to assert themselves with the former Liverpool striker heading powerfully against the crossbar.

Fowler was proving too much to handle for the Jets and almost doubled Glory's lead after 70 minutes but was denied pulling the trigger by a last-minute intervention from Ljubo Milicevic.

The Jets withstood a lot of pressure throughout the second half but almost snatched an equaliser two minutes from time when Jeremy Brockie dragged a shot narrowly wide of the post.

"We've not played the best today but we created a lot of chances. It's a credit to the boys. They dug deep," said Glory coach Dave Mitchell.

"I'm happy we kept a clean sheet and got the three points."

Adelaide are top of the standings with seven points while the Jets are still searching for their first win of the season.

In the day's other game, defending champions Sydney FC continued their poor start to the season with a 1-0 defeat to Brisbane Roar.

Matt McKay grabbed the game's only goal seven minutes into the second half at Lang Park to hand the Roar their first win of the campaign.

Sydney, meanwhile, have managed to pick up just one point from three games so far.