SAINTS coach Keiron Cunningham blasted his team’s mindset which contributed to an awful performance at Salford.

The red-hot Red Devils got off to a blistering start with three tries in 11 minutes and after that there was no coming back.

The Red Devils exposed defensive frailties and a poor attitude with Saints totally embarrassed by the 80-minute display.

Cunningham said: “It was a horrible start to the game, completely and utterly a mentality thing.

"We just didn't approach the game with the right mindset.

"You can smell an air of complacency about the place just before the game. I spoke to my staff about it, I was a little bit worried about it but, once they're ready to cross the line, it's a little late.

"Rugby league is about energy battles and, if you lose the energy battle, you dig yourself into a hole.

"I don't want to make any excuses or take any polish off what Salford have done. They responded outstandingly to a loss last week and played the perfect game tonight.

"We will respond next week for sure. It's disappointing as I thought we had some consistency in the place. We will respond next week and afterwards I'm sure but we need that consistency throughout the year. That is what we strive for as players and coaches.”

A bad night was made even worse by the sight of Mark Percival going down the tunnel on crutches after injuring his leg in the tackle.

"We're not sure of the extent of it," Cunningham said. "We've got to get him checked, but I'm sure it won't be good. It never rains but it pours."

He will have a scan early in the week.

On a night of gloom and doom there were only a couple of positive threads for Cunningham to cling to – one being the attitude displayed by Morgan Knowles, the backrower filling in at nine.

"Morgan Knowles was a shining light though - I thought his stint in the middle was superb and Alex (Walmsley) is a leader for this club. It is disappointing that a lot more of that leadership group, the ones that talk before games, didn't put their hands up and go with him.

"Nothing can be said though that will make me or the players feel any worse than we do now. They didn't go out there on purpose to lose the game. Preparation is key for everything,” he said.