SL Preview: Salford City Reds v Bradford Bulls

Correspondent

Salford City Reds and Bradford Bulls will both be looking to put disappointing Challenge Cup defeats behind them when they meet at the Salford City Stadium on Friday evening.

Bottom-of-the-table Salford were thrashed 52-6 by Warrington last weekend while Bradford found themselves on the wrong side of a 25-16 scoreline to London Broncos.

When the sides last met at the beginning of April, Bradford edged a narrow encounter 36-24 and Salford, who this week announced their plans to change from City Reds to Red Devils in 2013/14, will hope to avoid a similar result as they bid to move away from the foot of the table. 

French teenager Theo Fages is expected to feature for Salford after performing admirably against Warrington with Head Coach Brian Noble likely to field an unchanged line-up for the visit of Bradford.

Bulls Coach Francis Cummins is sweating on the fitness of Adam Sidlow who has a shoulder problem, while Brett Kearnley and Manase Manuokafoa definitely miss out with groin and thumb injuries respectively. James Donaldson is, however, fit to play after being knocked unconscious at London last week and Jacob Fairbank, who signed on loan from Huddersfield earlier this week, is available for selection. 

Salford City Reds 19-man squad: Broughton, Gibson, Gleeson, Gaskell, Foran, Ashurst, Dixon, Wild, Godwin, Nero, Mauro, Neal, Fages, Sneyd, McGoldrick, Evalds, Griffin, Walne.

Bradford Bulls 19-man squad: Donaldson, Sidlow, Platt, Gale, Kear, Scruton, Bateman, L’Estrange, Purtell, Lulia, Whitehead, Diskin, Sammut, Addy, Langley, Walker, Evans, Blythe.

Prediction: Should be a close match, but Bradford will edge it – away win. 

Stats:

Jamie Langley is one appearance away from making it 250 for the Bulls. Langley has made 190 starts and 59 substitute appearances for the Bulls since signing from Wakefield in 2002 and has scored 39 tries for a total of 191 points.

Super League summary:

Salford won 7

Bradford won 23 (includes win in 2006 play-offs)

1 draw

Salford highest score: 56-16 (H, 2011) (also widest margin)

Bradford highest score: 96-16 (H, 2000) (also widest margin)