Super League: Salford Red Devils turn around half-time deficit to beat Hull KR
Last Updated: 20/07/14 8:57pm
Salford coach Iestyn Harris felt his side's defence was the key to their 38-18 triumph over Hull KR at the KC Lightstream Stadium.
The Red Devils trailed 12-4 at the break but scored 34 points in the second half to turn the tables ont heir hosts, keeping alive their hopes of making the play-offs in the process.
Yet it was his team's efforts without the ball which most impressed Harris as they claimed two more points to move up to 10th in the table, four back of eighth-placed Widnes with six games to play.
We're still long way away but we're making good strides. Our attack is not brilliant at the moment but we'll get there going forward.
Iestyn Harris
"You win games on your defence and you win tight games with your defence," he said.
"We play a lot of good teams who throw a lot at you. If you can defend you'll have to score 40 points every week to win.
"We're still long way away but we're making good strides. Our attack is not brilliant at the moment but we'll get there going forward.
"I don't think we were white hot but because we were solid defensively we kept the scoreboard ticking over. That's when you become dominant."
Harris admits the changes he and his coaching staff made at the interval paid dividends, with Rovers only managing a late try from forward Michael Weyman after the break
"We weren't doing things that were us in the first half," he admitted. "We changes a few things and we are starting to play as a team. We are also starting to understand as a team.
"I was disappointed to let that try in at the end and the one on the line. We looked comfort defensively which is a big positive for me."
Desperately disappointed
Opposite number Chris Chester was at a loss for the Jekyll and Hyde display by the hosts - they remain firmly in the play-off picture themselves, but missed the chance to close the gap on the Vikings.
"I'm desperately disappointed with our second-half display," Chester said. "I've let the boys know at full time just how disappointed I was.
"We have to get better and things have to change.
"I don't know why it happened but it's happened the last three games against St Helens and Leeds and Salford.
"As coaches we will have a look at it and find out who's out on the pitch at the start of the second half and see if there is anything we can do to change that.
"It's a massive concern and Salford are a good team and we gave them cheap yards and field position.
"We started comfortably in the first half. We were the better team but we just didn't show up for some reason.
"I'm really disappointed with our kicking game which was poor all game. That made the difference."