Salford Red Devils tasted victory for the first time in almost two months with a 26-12 defeat of Super League basement side Widnes Vikings in a match where Chris Houston saw red.
Ian Watson's men are languishing outside the top eight ahead of the run-in after a difficult five-match losing league run, but they claimed the points with relative ease on Thursday to extend Widnes' own misery.
Salford made a slow start, requiring a brace from Kris Welham and Jake Bibby's try to cancel out the efforts of the influential Tom Gilmore and Patrick Ah Van to enter the final half hour all square.
The Vikings imploded after losing their half-time lead, conceding a try to Red Devils debutant Greg Burke – against his old club – and a pair of penalty goals to Rob Lui.
Houston was then dismissed for dissent, sarcastically applauding the referee after being sent to the sin-bin for a challenge on Burke, to cap another dismal evening for the visitors, even before Lui added a late try.
