Salford City Reds head coach Brian Noble hopes his side can continue improving ahead of Saturday’s Magic Weekend clash with Widnes Vikings at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium.
The Reds have lost five of the last six league games – conceding 126 points in their last three outings across all competitions.
But after briefly going ahead against his former club Bradford Bulls last weekend, Noble insists his men are heading in the right direction.
“We made some improvements last weekend but we need to certainly make some more,” he said.
“We need to show that we can get into the winner’s enclosure and that’s what I’m trying to do for us but it’s about performance.
“Points are a by-product of improving week-by-week for us and understanding what we’re doing and what we’re trying to do.
“I certainly think that if we keep improving the way we have been doing we’ll score some points.”
The Reds edged out a 13-try clash with Huddersfield Giants in last year’s mid-season showpiece – two tries each for Jodie Broughton and former-Reds Adam Sidlow and Joel Moon securing the win.
Widnes currently sit four points above bottom-of-the-table Salford, having already beaten the Reds this season.
Scores for Broughton, Theo Fages, Lee Jewit and Jordan James were not enough when the sides met at the Stobart Stadium last month.
Australian utility man Chris Nero will miss the trip after being stretched-off with a neck injury last Friday, minutes after taking to the pitch.
And although the 32-year-old was released from hospital hours later, Noble insists the club will be giving the former Huddersfield man a rigorous assessment before sending him out again.
“The great news is that Chris is fine and we’re delighted about that but we have to take some serious decisions on his future,” he told Sky Sports.
“When something like this happens, you have to examine the reasons for it. The medical people have to give us the right information and then we can sit down with Chris and discuss it.
“If he can play next week, he will, however we don’t take chances.”
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