Earlier in the week, Glory coach Ian Ferguson labelled Wednesday's match as a 'Cup Final' for Perth who came into the match in bottom spot, but move into ninth thanks to the win.

Fowler, who scored a second-half brace to clinch the win for Perth, told FoxSports after the game it was an important result for the club.

"We've been unfortunate the past couple of weeks, results have just gone against us," he said.

"But today was a must-win game, to get to the finals will be a tall challenge but we've just got to try and win as many games as we can.

"Tonight was important that we got that win."

Perth twice gave away leads in the contest and Fowler said that has been an ongoing problem for his side.

"That's probably been the story of our season, we get into good positions and then we give silly goals away," he said.

"Regardless of what level you play you can't afford to give goals away because you're always fighting an uphill battle.

"But (tonight) we managed to score more than them."

Glory coach Ian Ferguson said: "I felt over the last four or five weeks we have taken small steps and the football was better.

"It's given us lifeline and now we have some big games coming up in the New Year."

Adelaide United captain Travis Dodd was bitterly disappointed with the result after the game, as the Reds slumped to their third defeat in four games.

"It's disappointing coming off last week's result," he said. "We knew Perth were going to come out and be desperate and that's exactly what they were for the first 45 minutes.

"We just didn't match their intensity and we got punished. We made too many mistakes and couldn't keep the ball, so we didn't deserve to win."

Dodd also lamented Iain Ramsay's missed chance to equalise at 3-2 halfway through the second-half, after the Reds winger had rounded Glory keeper Tando Velaphi.

"Ramsay had that opportunity to get us back into the game and unfortunately he missed and those things happen," he said.

"They went straight down after that and got the penalty. That's the way it goes in football sometimes."

Adelaide's next match is a crucial match away to third-placed Central Coast Mariners on Boxing Day, while Perth are not in action again until the New Year when visit Gold Coast United on January 3.