The first half performance other than the try conceded from the attacking kick was great controlled rugby with us making a good number of opportunities and finishing the majority of them off.

Defence looked reasonably strong as well.

The second half there were some all too familar signs that we have seen too many times before :-

(1) Don't take the easy two points on offer on a couple of occasions which would have given us more breathing space earlier in the game (They were even thinking for far too long about whether to go for the 2 for the one that put us 26-12 up. Everyone in the crowd realised it would mean Salford had to score 3 times to get anything from the game, but the players took an age to realise it, despite having ran two earlier kickable penalties and coming up with nowt)

(2) Defensive line was static allowing easy yards, too many 3 man tackles where Salford were still able to offload and too many first men in going high on their big men, first man should imo always get the legs.

(3) Trying the same lofted kicks on a couple of occasions in the attack when we never look like competing for them and one had already cost us a try against.

(4) Poor effort (or should I say no effort) in trying to defuse the bomb which Moon knocked on from with the line at his mercy (whilst I do think he must have been offside to get there so quick, I doubt Bentham would have gone upstairs to check it)

(5) 3 clean breaks not finished off because of a lack of support play

I do think that part of the problem is down to the team selection and the use of the inetrchange bench. In both areas, there appears to be some strange decisions being made.

However, despite all those negatives the positive was the 2 points for the win, which the signing of Sykes effectively won us, as I doubt John would have converted a couple of the kicks Sykes landed in the first half.

Also, whilst Agar has made comment about Fox's tackle on Patten being crucial, I agree with Carney that Kirmond's effort to get back to Ashurst and cause him to fumble was also worthy of mention.

Kirmonds intervention at the end won us the game, but we should never have been in that position. A lack of composure could have cost us dear but its fair to say that the same problems cost us week in week out. We only have the game at saints (which is a tough ask at any time) now before the 20th may. They should be putting in long hours on the training ground to iron out these flaws for a second half of the season push. A month to sort the issues that have all been mentioned on here, using the saints game as a guide and a chance to try out a few things in readiness for warrington & london at home with the magic weekend game in the middle.

Completely agree.

Great comment, Poptart. Would we have taken that result before the game? YES! Anyone remember salford playing us off our park last season? I do and that win yesterday showed a lot of what is GOOD about the club. Promising attacking moves first half, character and bravery in defence in the last minute and a tremendous crowd for early Sat evening and a Sky game. The glass IS half full!

I didn't realise whilst at the game how close they came to scoring again on the 79th minute! Just watching it back on Sky.