David Clegg and Brian Noble Preview Friday’s Match With Bradford -
It was with feelings of frustration and disappointment that everyone left the Provident Stadium, Odsal, back on Easter Monday, having come so close to registering our first away win of the season.  On that occasion, the Reds had travelled over the Pennines on the back of a resounding victory over league leaders Huddersfield, four days earlier, at the Salford City Stadium.

Such had been the confidence running through the club, as a result of that remarkable victory, that the players really felt that they had underperformed in not coming away with the spoils, once more, against the Bradford Bulls.

The opportunity to assuage that defeat comes on Friday evening for the return home fixture, but far from the air of optimism that pervaded the team, last time, this fixture comes hard on the heels of an extremely disappointing performance in, and exit from, the Challenge Cup, at the hands of Warrington.

Confidence and self-belief will undoubtedly be at a low ebb following that, and head coach Brian Noble acknowledges the importance of helping the players get over the emotion that goes with such a defeat.  To that end, therefore, time has been spent analysing and discussing the performance, backed up with video evidence, all of which will have enabled players to see for themselves the areas upon which they need to work. 
Brian believes that the most important outcome from all of this is their acknowledgement of the necessity to improve.  In some respects it could be helpful that it is a short turnaround, this week, as this will have ensured that attention very quickly turned to this week’s game.  He certainly does not expect motivation to be an issue for any player, after last weekend.  Our players are professionals and they will want to prove themselves to be so, by means of a vastly improved performance, on Friday.

Not only that, Brian also feels that they owe it to the fans, whom he states were fabulous at Warrington, on Sunday, in the way they out-sang the Warrington fans, and urged on the team, despite the scoreline.

One specific area in which he is looking for improvement is the physical element of the game.  Knowing how physical a side Bradford have been over the years, this would alarm many people, but Brian sees it differently.  He believes that the root of the problem is more likely to have been as a result of some of the things the Reds  could and should have done at Warrington, and that in improving those aspects would mean that Bradford are denied the opportunity to be physically dominant.

His view is undoubtedly supported by the fact that one of the few standout players, last weekend, was young Theo Fages, whom Brian described as outstanding. He also felt that Liam Foran, Darrel Griffin and Martin Gleeson contributed much to the game.  With corresponding improvements from other members of the team, Brian feels that there is a great deal more that this squad of players can give.

Referee – Mr T Roby
TJs – J Cobb, G Stokes
IGs – T Maher, G Towey

Salford’s 19 Man Squad

2 JODIE BROUGHTON

3 ASHLEY GIBSON

4 MARTIN GLEESON

6 LEE GASKELL

7 LIAM FORAN

11 MATTY ASHURST

12 ANDREW DIXON

13 STEPHEN WILD

14 WAYNE GODWIN

15 CHRIS NERO

16 VIC MAURO

20 ADAM NEAL

21 THEO FAGES

22 MARC SNEYD

23 RYAN McGOLDRICK

25 NIALL EVALDS

27 DARRELL GRIFFIN

35 ADAM WALNE