The Wildcats have endured woeful form of late but, on the back of a derby hammering against Castleford, at least regained a great deal of pride in the 32-22 reverse.

The Warriors survived the first-half sending-off of Richard Mathers and a second-half onslaught from the visitors to see off the Wildcats at the JJB Stadium.

The former Leeds full-back was given his second red card of the campaign two minutes before the break by referee Ben Thaler for leading with an elbow as he attempted to fend off Wildcats back row Jason Demetriou, which tarnished an otherwise solid opening half for the home side.

Tries from Tim Smith, Thomas Leuluai and Cameron Phelps had opened up a 16-4 advantage after two Danny Brough penalties had edged the visitors ahead early on, but it was pure grit and determination that ensured they stayed ahead in a tense second 40 minutes.

Wakefield hit back through Danny Sculthorpe, Duncan MacGillivray and Oliver Wilkes, but Mickey Higham and a late effort from Joel Tomkins sealed the points for Brian Noble's men.

But Kear said: "Attitude wise, it was 100 per cent better, and we looked as though we wanted to play the game tonight.

"We showed a bit of desire, commitment, enthusiasm – call it what you want but you can credit it all under the one word – attitude.

"I am very, very pleased with how they have turned it around in a very, very short space of time.

"I can live with us being beaten when they have gone out there in the playing field and fronted up and given their all.

"I can live with that, and that's why I feel so much better than I did after the Castleford game when I felt we capitulated.

"We certainly didn't capitulate tonight. They showed a bit of steel and resolve out there.

"And it was there for the winning, but we looked edgy and nervous when the opportunity was there to win it."

Meanwhile, Wigan coach Noble paid tribute to the belief in his side after they clinched their place in the engage Super League play-offs with the victory.

He said: "We were well in control and probably what we did with the ball at the start of that second half gave them a bit of a sniff.

"But I thought to cut that out and to get over the try line a couple more times was pretty impressive from us.

"We kept believing, and it wasn't exactly pretty in the second half, but we held them out, which was good."

On the sending off, Noble added: "I've not seen it again, I'll have to have a look at it, but it looked harsh to me.

"If I look at it and I think we have a case to defend, we'll defend it vigorously."

Wigan: Mathers, Calderwood, Phelps, Carmont, Richards, Smith, Leuluai, Fielden, Higham, Coley, Bailey, Hansen, J Tomkins. Replacements: Paleaaesina, Colbon, McIlorum, O'Carroll.
Wakefield: Grix, Blanch, Gleeson, Atkins, Petersen, Rooney, Brough, Wilkes, Drew, Moore, Demetriou, Golden, Sculthorpe.