Bottom club Salford gave Wigan a fright before slumping to Super League defeat on Sunday.

The Reds trailed by only 16-12 at half-time, before Wigan asserted their class to romp to victory with the inspirational Adrian Lam leading the way.

But it was Salford, who beat the Warriors at The Willows last season, who went ahead in the 12th minute, when Graham Holroyd's kick was fumbled and Alan Hunte crossed.

Holroyd tagged on the goal before Lam fed Julian O'Neill to cut the gap to 6-4.

Wigan went ahead for the first time in the 27th minute through Lam's touchdown.

And the visitors pressed their advantage when Steve Wild collected Lam's pass to go over.

But battling Salford refused to lie down and they reduced the arrears at half-time to four points, when Andy Coley collected Holroyd's pass to touch down for a converted try.

After the break, an O'Neill penalty put Wigan back in charge, and they pulled clear when Brian Carney collected Lam's kick to go over.

Salford reduced the margin to 22-18, but that proved to be the end of their resistance.

Lam's second try made it 28-18 before Danny Tickle went over.

And then Lam completed a well-deserved hat-trick nine minutes from time, before sub Mark Smith added an eighth touchdown.

Salford bagged a fourth try in injury time, but it was too little too late for the home side.

Salford: Gibson, Hunte, Maloney, Broadbent, Arnold, Holroyd, Blakeley, Baynes, Alker, Highton, Ebrill, Treacey, Wainwright.
Replacements: Corvo, Reardon, Coley, Watson.

Wigan: Briscoe, Carney, Connolly, Hodgson, Ainscough, O'Neill, Lam, O'Connor, Newton, Howard, Cassidy, Tickle, Wild.
Replacements: Jones, M. Smith, Bibey, Robinson.

Referee: Ian Smith (Oldham)