St Helens moved back to a share of Super League top spot after a hard-fought win over Salford.

Ian Millward's side have now won four matches in succession, and have drawn level with Bradford Bulls in the table.

But despite the result, Millward is convinced that the Reds can survive under new coach Karl Harrison.

"We didn't play well but I've got to give credit to Salford," said Millward. "It's like a big cloud has been lifted off them. They have a new coach and there's some direction there.

"They have a lot of experienced players. All the ingredients are there for them to stay up."

In truth, Salford were fortunate to escape a heavier beating after Saints were three times thwarted by forward-pass decisions when through the Salford line.

Chances wasted

Reds centre Damian Gibson opened the scoring in the 16th minute when he collected Mike Wainwright's kick to the corner and beat Sean Hoppe to the line.

But Saints were back on terms when former Australian Test prop Darren Britt combined with Barry Ward for his first try seven minutes later.

More chances came and went for the visitors, before stand-off Graham Holroyd put Salford back in front as the break approached.

Hoppe then finished off a superb cross-field passing move and Paul Sculthorpe kicked his second conversion for St Helens.

Tommy Martyn intercepted an Ian Watson pass and ran in from 70m, before a Martin Gleeson score and another from Martyn put the result apparently beyond doubt.

The Reds closed with 12 unanswered points, as first substitute Paul Southern and then hooker Malcolm Alker broke through the Saints defence, but it was not enough.

"It was a great effort," said Reds director of rugby Steve Simms.

"We stuck to the game plan and I think we were probably the better team for most of the game."

Salford: Broadbent, Hunte, Gibson, Littler, Arnold, Holroyd, Watson, Corvo, Alker, Baynes, Ebrill, Treacey, Wainwright.
Replacements: Nicol, Hancock, Southern, Coley.

St Helens: Wellens, Albert, Gleeson, Jonkers, Hoppe, Sculthorpe, Martyn, Britt, Higham, Shiels, Bennett, Stankevitch, Joynt.
Replacements: Ward, Nickle, Stewart, Edmondson.

Referee: Richard Silverwood (Dewsbury)