Salford rediscovered their defensive steel to grind out their first win of Super League XII on a filthy night in Manchester.

The Reds, who were the surprise package of 2006, conceded more points than any other club in the first three rounds but nullified the threat of the dangerous Catalans to keep the first blank sheet of 2007.

Stand-off Luke Dorn scored an early try - his first for Salford - but the home side had to wait an hour before finally securing the points when inspirational captain Malcolm Alker grabbed the match winner.

It was the perfect way to mark the 25th anniversary of popular chairman John Wilkinson's reign at The Willows, even if it was not the prettiest match.

The Dragons, fresh from their outstanding win over Leeds, had been labelled the best attacking side so far this year by Reds coach Karl Harrison and they tried to play football.

But they missed the creative skills of Aaron Gorrell, who is out for the season with a knee injury, and the conditions were hardly suited to free-flowing rugby.

Dragons prop Adel Fellous twice spilled possession in crunching tackles, one of them by Michael Korkidas, who had a storming opening, while the threatening runs of full-back Clint Greenshields came unstuck thanks to the greasy ball.

Salford's early pressure paid off on 11 minutes when David Hodgson, Luke Robinson and Kevin McGuinness ran the ball on the last tackle and Dorn finished off wide out.

John Wilshere added the touchline conversion and the Reds thought they had scored again when right wing Daley Williams chased Robinson's clever kick to the line but lost control of the ball.

Wilshere also went close as Salford enjoyed the majority of possession and territorial advantage but they were never in command against dangerous opponents.

It was a similar story in the second half as Dorn narrowly failed to take Simon Finnigan's pass in a perfect position to score, while Williams pulled off a timely interception when the visitors looked most likely to score.

Robinson had a drop-goal attempt charged down but the Reds finally secured the win nine minutes from the end when a run from Wilshere set up the position for Alker to dart over from dummy half.

Wilshere missed the conversion and also had a try disallowed as Salford maintained their stranglehold right to the end.