THE Vikings remain winless after they were thrashed 46-10 at home by Salford.

Most of the damage was done in the first half with the Red Devils running in six unanswered tries to lead 30-0 at the break.

Widnes showed some spirit after the interval but overall the performance will leave their fans wondering where their first win is coming from.

Not for the first time this season, Widnes didn't get off to a bad start in terms of establishing some field-position.

However, their inability to find the killer touch made it a familiar story.

Salford opened the scoring on 14 minutes when ex-St Helens prop Lama Tasi finished a bewildering handling move under the posts with Gareth O'Brien converting.

It didn't take long for the second try to arrive with O'Brien creating the extra man and winger Greg Johnson finishing off at the right corner.

The Vikings conceded again, and all too easily, when second row George Griffin crashed over from a routine short ball.

Widnes seemed to have lost total confidence in their defensive systems and it was no surprise when Ben Murdoch-Masila spun out of a tackle to make it 20-0 after 25 minutes.

The Red Devils continued to press and a couple of further chances went begging while Widnes had one half-chance up the right hand side but Corey Thompson's pass didn't quite find the mark.

A loose pass from Jordan Johnstone was scooped up by Salford flyer Johnson and although the Vikings did well to funnel back, they were hopelessly outnumbered on the next play allowing Kris Welham to cross with Michael Dobson converting superbly.

Just when it seemed things couldn't get any worse in the first half, they did.

The Vikings gave up possession with 30 seconds left on the clock and the Red Devils took advantage to send Justin Carney in at the flag to make it 30-0.

It was clear Widnes were willing to chance their arm in the second half and they pulled four points back when Thompson finished off Chris Bridge's lovely cut-out pass.

Normal service was resumed as Salford re-asserted their dominance with a three try burst in the middle of the half with Dobson, Robert Lui and O'Brien crossing.

The Vikings did at least have the consolation of scoring the final try when Thompson and Rhys Hanbury combined with the latter finishing off at the posts with Bridge adding the extras.

Widnes: Hanbury; Thompson, Armstrong, Runciman, Marsh; Craven, Heremaia; Dudson, Johnstone, Buchanan, Olbison, Whitley, Houston. Subs: Bridge, Leuluai, T Chapelhow, J Chapelhow.

Salford: O'Brien; Johnson, Welham, Sa'u, J Carney; Lui, Dobson; Tasi, Tomkins, Walne, Griffin, Murdoch-Masila, Flanagan. Subs: Kopczak, Krasniqi, Brining, T Carney.

Half-Time: 0-30 Referee: Mr C Kendall Attendance: 5,565