Pressure is mounting on Bulls coach Matthew Elliott and his fading champions after their fourth defeat in six matches and their third on the trot.

This time they were edged out 11-10 at struggling Salford after probably their worst display of the season and Elliott admitted: "This sets us back a long way because I feel this was a game we had every reason to be up for. We're back scrapping in fifth spot again when we had the chance to go within two points of third."

And in a rare public dig at his players he added: "I didn't see any of them being stretchered off through exhaustion so my question is why didn't we work harder?"

The coach's problems could be increased today as Aussie prop Jeremy Donougher goes for X-rays on a damaged elbow although he did return to the field for the closing minutes.

Winger Abi Ekoku may also face a date with the disciplinary committee on Thursday after a scuffle involving Reds skipper David Hulme was put on report by referee Karl Kirkpatrick. The League will study the incident before deciding whether either player has a case to answer."

One bright spot was the return of super sub Paul Medley who scored his 98th try for the club after concerns that he may be forced to miss the rest of the season with a troublesome arm injury.

"It was just great to get out there again," said the speedy second-rower who has been restricted to just two bench appearances prior to yesterday.

"I have had problems with the nerves in an arm and it was either a case of getting a special support made or taking a three month break.

"In the end I went for the first option and I was happy with the way it went personally. I took some heavy knocks on it and I suffered no ill-effects."

The Bulls Academy side bounced back to winning ways with a 40-6 success over Salford in the curtain-raiser.

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