Andrew Nabbout's first-half effort proved to be enough to secure Melbourne Victory a 1-0 away win against Robbie Fowler's Brisbane Roar on Friday.

Nabbout took down a long ball and beat the recovering Macaulay Gillesphey before stabbing past Max Crocombe with 19 minutes played in what proved to be the only goal of the game.

The scorer went off clutching his hamstring before half-time and neither side could replicate his clinical finishing as chances went begging at either end.

Roar's Roy O'Donovan was guilty of one particularly incredible miss 25 minutes from time, blazing over a gaping goal from Jay O'Shea's cutback.

Victory could and perhaps should have then set up a comfortable finish as captain Ola Toivonen struck the post with a free-kick and substitute Kenny Athiu - Nabbout's replacement - saw a dinked effort cleared off the goal line.

But despite playing seven minutes of stoppage time, the visitors would not be punished for those misses and held on for a fourth consecutive win over Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.