You can argue whether playing Widnes constitutes being a big game or not, and whether it's a measure of our aspirations, but I'm feeling it this week.

We could really do with a win. Hull F.C. is going to be a tough match at home next week and it won't be ideal going into the London game on scratch.

Sunday afternoon and all, it's a good opportunity to get down in numbers and show how much it means.

i agree chico i thinks its a huge game for us if we get turned over there i really fear for the rest of the season

Really Gaz?

The only thing I'm feeling is a typical Salford performance when we need a win. It will be a woeful game with Widnes getting their first Super League win of the season 23-10!!

But you never know, Prove me wrong Reds!!!

we will win 32-20 - believe !!!

I'm looking forward to it. Should be a good day out and it's a huge (massive?

) game as well. The way things are at the minute I can see defeat on Sunday leading to things imploding. Just got to play like we did in the first half last week.

If Widnes could defend like they did last week, that would be a huge help too.

Got a horrible feeling that Widnes last week coasted and tried to avoid energy for this week as I'm pretty sure they will have targeted this as the first win and start of thier season.
Do genuinely see a Salford win and an impressive one at that, the signs during the Wigan and Saints games have been there (I disregaurd the Cas game as we all know it should never have taken place in such appauling conditions) that we are a much more coherent unit this year and that is we get the ball out wide we have the fire power to trouble even the best teams. Think that Patten will have his best game and that Feka returning will prove the undoing of Widnes in the forwards.

Rose tinted yes but a genuine gut feeling all the same.

I like this post, it shows the requisite touch of optimism, whilst highlighting Salford's long standing track record of fkkng up must win games.

It's the typical game that we're perfectly capable of winning. It's just a case of whether we prepare properly. Too many times in the past we go into these games where the other team puts in their maximum effort and we turn up thinking we don't have to put in as much effort because it's not a top 4 side and we inevitably end up losing a la Crusaders almost every time we played them.

Salford to race into an early 18 point lead, only to end up losing 22-18.

The ref,the playing surface,the linesmen,the ingoal bleeders,their mascot,the weather,terry o`connor,them sh.t trucks,and Tarrys moustache robbed us on the hooter.

sundays game is a must win game already!if we dont win i can see us going on a the slide!salford 32 widnes 18! x

With their fast I pitch. Sunday is the perfect opportunity to utilize our fast backs, get the ball out quickly and blast them to smithereens with our quick no compromising plays.

As it is we'll probably try and out muscle them up the middle and get beat



COME ON SALFORD. LET'S GET THAT FIRST WIN!

The way your lads tore into Saints in the 1st half has me a little concerned with the way we've been defending out wide.I just hope that the mauling we got off Hudd's has given us a kick up the backside and we give you a game. Hope to have Watts,Clarke & Briscoe back from injury,if not I think it will be Salford's day.

I'm not expecting us to win. We should be favourites (bookies are giving Widnes up to an 8 point start). But I think, considering we need people to at least have a look inside our new ground, Salford [ineed[/i to win on Sunday. So that's what makes it a big deal for me.

Considering Sunday afternoon rugby is somewhat of a rarity on our side of the Pennines, it's a good excuse for part-timers to get down and roar the lads on.

Big game, I'm not sure, important, damn right it is, well any way you see it here are the players that will make it happen.

Salford 19: Patten, Broughton, Gleeson, Gibson, Williams, Holdsworth, Smith, Jewitt, Sidlow, James, Anderson, McPherson, Wild, Nero, Adamson, Owen, Howarth, Paleaaesina, Gledhill.

Widnes 19: Ah Van, Allen, Clarke, Craven, Cross, Davies, Flynn, Haggerty, Hanbury, Isa, Kavanagh, Leuluai, Marsh, Mullally, Owens, Pickersgill, Watts, White, Winterstein.

From our experience on the I-Pitch, i'd said the one thing which was noticeable is how hard it is to effectively turn and change direction. Therefore, a back line with pace could be quite destructive on there coupled with a intelligent short kicking game

What about a backline with pace coupled with a disappointing short kicking game?

Three Vikings players suspended for Sunday.

[urlhttp://www.widnesvikings.co.uk/article.php?id=7201[/url

Thankfully Finnegan is one of them as we all know he'd be on the scoresheet...

1. Owens
2. Flynn
3. Marsh
4. Isa
5. Ah Van
6. Craven
7. Hanbury
8. Cross
9. Watts
10. Davies
11. Allen
12. Winterstein
13. Clarke

14. Mullally
15. Kavanagh
16. White
17: Haggerty

That personally wouldbe my squad for Sunday. Look out for Watts, it will be interesting to see how he plays.

Just noticed Ashurst isn't in the squad, which is a blow as I think he's looked really good so far. Our back line picks itself (big blow not having Joel Moon thought) but it'll be interesting to see what PV does with the pack and who he puts on the bench.

Week one we started with;
Jewitt
Godwin
James
Anderson
Ashurst
Wild
Bench:
Gledhill
Adamson
Howarth
Palea'aesina

Week 2 we went with;
McPherson
Howarth
Gledhill
Ashurst
Adamson
Wild
Bench:
Jewitt
Sidlow
Nero
Owen

So we'll have a different pack for the 3rd straight week. Still no sign of Neal or Boyle.

Trying to forecast what Salford will do is well nigh impossible. As Adamjk stated, we came undone against Crusaders so many times. Widnes present a similar challenge, so who knows. HOWEVER, I think we will win. The big question mark again for me though, is Patten and Holdsworth. If either or both of these actually turn up and give a decent performance it would make a massive difference to our Team.

All that said, I'd be disappointed if we didn't win by at least 10!

..................and if we do fail, Coaches, please don't tell us that they 'trained the house down this week' and they can't understand what happened!!!

depends alot on how we defend for me, going forward I think we look sharp and could score a fair few points, defensively we looked good for 40 mins against saints but tired without the ball so i think a high scoring 36-18 which would be a right result....CMON UUUUUUU REDS!!!!

This has to be a must win, i hope Longy has worked on adapting Pattens link to recieving the ball at 3rd man. We look great spreading the ball up to this point, Patten, has 3-4 options with ball in hand and has failed every time and has chosen the wrong option, the most obvious noticeable pass on was the crash face ball to williams in both games, i'm not slagging Patten, it might be a confidence thing whats going on but it cost's tries, which cost's games, which cost's support, so come on Patten the safe inside ball isn't always the best option.

Widnes first win.