Following an error-ridden first 20 minutes, Salford captain Watkins was sent to the sin-bin for a late shot on Daejarn Asi.
Within a minute, Salford’s 12-man resistance was breached when debutant Daniel Okore handed off a tackle and supplied Horne, who found a gap to dart over and open the scoring.
The visitors rallied, however, and after his return to the field, a stunning offload from Watkins found Brierley who weaved inside Fletcher Rooney’s despairing dive to score only the Red Devils’ second Super League try of the season.
Salford – whose players have now been paid for the month , externalof February – ended the half the stronger and after Sneyd delivered a majestic kick to earn a 40-20, Kai Morgan was held up just before the whitewash on the last tackle.
Castleford thought they had retaken the lead within 60 seconds of the restart, but following a review from video referee Ben Thaler, Mustapha was adjudged to have knocked on before Nimbu dotted the ball down.
Three minutes later, the Tigers were not to be denied as the same two combined when Nimbu found Mustapha, who burst through to dive over next to the sticks.
Hoy’s third successful kick extended the Tigers’ lead, but they were pegged back soon after when Morgan’s super linebreak created the simplest of chances for Watkins to score and reduced the deficit to two points after Sneyd’s useful kick from the right side.
