Super League: Huddersfield Giants 8-9 Salford Red Devils

Chris Atkin kicked a drop-goal for Salford to win at Huddersfield

Chris Atkin's drop-goal was enough to secure 12-man Salford Red Devils a first win in six Super League games, against Huddersfield Giants.

Andy Ackers' try gave Salford a first-half lead that not even the dismissal of James Greenwood could undo, as two Dec Patton goals set up a 8-2 lead.

Joe Wardle added a try, converted by Aidan Sezer, to a first-half goal by the scrum-half to level for the Giants.

Atkin notched a one-pointer, while Sezer struck a post with his effort.

Richard Marshall's side were humbled by Hull KR in their last Super League fixture and had lost their past six in all competitions, but even with the sending-off of Greenwood - when it actually looked like Dan Sarginson had committed the high-tackle offence on Adam O'Brien - the Red Devils showed character, grit and quality when needed to claim the win.

Giants boss Ian Watson, Salford's former coach, had fans on his side for the first time at the John Smith's Stadium this season but they were left disappointed by an at-times laboured performance.

Ackers' smart try from dummy-half caught them napping in the first half, and they never kicked on with a man advantage when Wardle burst onto Ricky Leutele's offload to bring them level with a conversion.

In fact, other than seeing close-range efforts for Jermaine McGillvary and Leroy Cudjoe foiled, there was little for Huddersfield's supporters to shout about as Salford ran hard and played smart to snatch the win.

The loss of O'Brien in the incident which led to the sending off was further angst at the end of a week in which the Giants had already battled against Covid cases and close contacts to put out their squad.

Huddersfield head coach Ian Watson on Greenwood sending off:

"We told the fourth official and the other official who was wired up that he had got the wrong man. We even tried to show him on the computer on the sideline.

"I had a discussion for about five minutes with him. All he had to do was tell the referee because he'll be held responsible. It was a huge error.

"He sent the wrong guy off and left one of the best players on the field who shouldn't have been on the field. It had a massive impact on the outcome of the game.

"I'd be surprised if he (Sarginson) doesn't get a load of games banned but it doesn't help us."

Salford head coach Richard Marshall:

"I think James and Dan Sarginson were involved in the tackle but the view I had was too far out to notice.

"For us to defend so well for 12 players was monumental. Obviously the win was important, as was the performance, but the over-riding feeling from the game was the team spirit.

"We lost our captain in the warm-up and played with 12 men for over half the game but we just repelled Huddersfield's threats in last 10 minutes.

"The resilience and determination was just fantastic, it typifies Salford, it's why the club have been so successful in the last couple of years."

Huddersfield: Golding; McGillvary, Jake Wardle, Leutele, Cudjoe; Gaskell, Cogger; Yates, O'Brien, Wilson, Edwards, Greenwood, Jones

Interchanges: Sezer, Lawrence, Joe Wardle, Trout

Salford: Sarginson; Sio, Burgess, Davies, Williams; Patton, Atkin; Ikahihifo, Ackers, Wells, Livett, Greenwood, Taylor.

Interchanges: Ormondroyd, Burke, Johnson, Roberts.

Referee: Scott Mikalauskas (RFL)s

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