Bradford Bulls 44, Salford City Red 18: The lowest Bulls attendance at Valley Parade since the visit of Castleford Tigers last July - when the crowd was 9,287 - saw what was in many ways a typical performance.

For the third match out of six, the Super League champions conceded the first two tries before hitting back to win.

At Widnes the Bulls were 12-0 behind but won 22-16, and at home to Hull five days later the World Club title-holders trailed 10-0 only to triumph 32-18.

The Bulls ran in seven tries in all last night, but whether they can afford such laxity at the start at Castleford on Friday and at Leeds seven days later is more open to question.

The Bulls were without stand-off Robbie Paul (rib injury), although there was also an element of him being rested for the two stiff away tests to come.

Brandon Costin switched from the pack to the No 6 role, and Lee Radford was elevated from the substitutes' bench to the starting line-up. Nathan McAvoy also moved into the 13 from the bench as Lesley Vainikolo hadn't fully recovered from the thigh injury he suffered against St Helens.

Salford had to make a very late switch, Bobbie Goulding pulling out with a virus five minutes before coach Steve McCormack had to name his side.

City Reds, who suffered a record 96-16 defeat at Odsal two seasons ago, made a sensational start, grabbing two tries within the opening five minutes.

The first came after three minutes when visiting scrum half Ian Watson's fierce grubber kick seemed to catch Bulls centre Scott Naylor by surprise.

He fumbled and then palmed the ball back towards right winger Tevita Vaikona, but he was hustled off it by Salford hooker Malcolm Alker and left winger Michael Platt scored.

Stand-off Steve Blakeley improved that, and he was instrumental in their second try, catching his own chip ahead, centre Jason Nicol being put over by second-rower Darren Treacy after two suspiciously forward-looking passes.

Slowly, as is becoming their habit, the Bulls began to gain a toe-hold on the match and, after forcing a goal-line drop out in the 17th minute, they scored a minute later.

Radford took a short, hard pass from scrum half Paul Deacon, who added the goal.

Salford then put pressure on themselves when Blakeley's kick-off went out on the full, and only what looked a high tackle helped to keep out McAvoy on the left.

City Reds had to drop out from their goal-line too, but they fell behind in the 25th minute, with Deacon again instrumental.

Platt became the villain as he failed to collect the scrum half's high kick to the corner and Vaikona gathered, allowing Scott Naylor to give prop Brian McDermott a stroll over for the equalising try, which Deacon converted.

Salford had a further setback two minutes later when Nicol was sin-binned for dissent after a holding-down decision went against them, and Deacon's third goal put the Bulls 14-10 ahead.

Blakeley soon replied with a penalty after Mike Forshaw was penalised for a high tackle on former Bradford forward Warren Jowitt as Salford plugged away.

Jowitt and substitute Neil Baynes were prominent for the City Reds at this juncture, but the Bulls widened the gap before the interval when hooker James Lowes spotted a gap to score, and Deacon added the goal.

A half-time deficit of eight points seemed harsh on Salford for all their first-half efforts, and Alker soon needed treatment on the resumption after the dangerous Paul Anderson bowled him over.

Salford continued to defend doggedly as the match became stalemated and scrappy with Bradford missing the inspirational play of their injured captain Paul.

But Deacon, despite his kicks on the sixth tackle lacking conviction at times, continued to cause problems.

And, after the baby-faced scrum half had been held inches short from what would have been his first try of the season, big prop Anderson charged over for their fourth try after 56 minutes, and Deacon again tagged on the goal.

The Bulls tightened their grip when Lowes dummied his way through for his second try after 63 minutes as the pressure began to tell on Salford.

Full back Leon Pryce, who had been a constant threat, crowned a series of threatening runs by weaving his way through from 60 metres for a brilliant individual try after 69 minutes.

Deacon converted both and Pryce not surprisingly was announced as the man of the match on the text vote.

Although Blakeley converted his own consolation try after gathering a ricochet, Bradford rounded off their comeback when centre Naylor scored against his former club.

Deacon crowned a superb kicking performance with his eighth goal from the touchline.