Bradford Bulls 26 Salford City Reds 30: Bradford's fightback falls short to extend losing streak

That dreadful record becomes nine successive defeats if you include the Bulls' Carnegie Challenge Cup loss to Warrington and underlines just how difficult a job Mick Potter has in turning around the team's fortunes next season.

Jodie Broughton, Ste Tyrer and Ashley Gibson all crossed for the Reds, while Steve Menzies and debutant Vinny Finigan responded for the Bulls who trailed by 10 points at the interval.

A Karl Fitzpatrick score and another Broughton spectacular doubled that lead after the break, but Stuart Reardon, Elliott Whitehead and Finigan's second made for a grandstand finish.

Caretaker boss Lee St Hilaire, who received a text from McNamara wishing him well in the build-up, said: "I thought we contained them very well until Jodie's intervention.

"We had a tough start to the week, losing our head coach, and we've had a tough end to the week as well.

"Steve Mac has laid a great foundation at Bradford Bulls and the club is going to reap the benefits in the years to come.

"Then we lost Dave Halley, who had a bereavement to cope with, and I think that's a reflection of the game.

"We started it badly, had some good bits in the middle and were just unlucky in the end."

Salford got off to the perfect start in the third minute, Broughton exploiting a vulnerable Bulls defence, travelling over 100 metres in the process before Tyrer added a second try converted by Holdsworth.

Veteran Australian forward Menzies replied for Bradford, before Heath L'Estrange's error allowed Gibson in. Holdsworth tagged on the extras.

Another Bulls response came as L'Estrange and Michael Worrincy combined to send in Finigan for a try, converted by Addy.

Salford increased their lead, smart play from Jeremy Smith at dummy-half sending in Fitzpatrick under the sticks.

Broughton came up with another score to silence the home crowd, collecting the ball deep in his own half before scorching past the Bulls cover and leaving Finigan for dead in a straight race for the line.

Holdsworth converted both before the hosts claimed their first points of the second period in the 68th minute. The Bulls opted to work the short side and Reardon took Brett Kearney's ball over the top in his stride before squeezing over in the corner.

Whitehead finished a flowing move involving Craig Kopczak, Chris Nero and Andy Lynch, and then Kearney offloaded for Finigan to claim his second of the afternoon. Addy goaled both, but the visitors hung on.

Bradford: Finigan, Sheriffe, Platt, Nero, Reardon, Kearney, Addy, Lynch, L'Estrange, Kopczak, Whitehead, Langley, Menzies. Substitutes: Godwin, Worrincy, Crossley, Hall.

Salford: Fitzpatrick, Broughton, Henry, Gibson, Tyrer, M. Smith, Holdsworth, Cashmere, Alker, Neal, Sibbit, Littler, Swain. Substitutes:: J. Smith, Sidlow, Parker, Adamson.

Referee: I Smith (Oldham).