Wigan Warriors have jumped up to second in Super League, notching their fifth win in a row and their tenth in their past 11 matches, with a crucial 24-16 result over relegation-threatened Wakefield.

Wigan coach Adrian Lam was pleased with the way his team stayed in the fight to grind out a victory at the death.

Locked at 12-12 at half-time, the Warriors matched to edge ahead late thanks to Liam Marshall’s third try and a four-pointer to Sam Powell in the final seconds.

“I knew it was going to come down to two points, we’d prepared for that,” Lam said.

“In the next few weeks I wanted us to be in a bit of arm wrestle that we came through together. That’s just what we need now, a bit more belief in that area.

“We got that today but it would have been nicer… we led by six points for most of the game.

“It wasn’t our best performance, especially in the first half, we didn’t start well. But I was pleased we hung in there. “

The victory caps a remarkable return to form for Wigan, who started the season poorly but are now pushing for a return to Old Trafford.

Only St Helens have beaten the Warriors in the past three months.

“The dressing room’s pretty excited at the moment,” Lam said.

“They understand, they’ve been prepped along the way how important this has been and the journey that we’ve been on here to get here.

“I didn’t want to mention the other side if we had of lost, a potential chance of missing out on the five together. That’s how close it is.

“Everyone’s worked really hard and I think we’re in a good place at the moment.”

Lam has lavished praise Marshall after the winger finished with a fantastic hat-trick against Wakefield.

Marshall’s three tries, taking his tally for 2019 up to 16, helped the Warriors secure an important eight-point victory.

“It was unbelievable,” he said.

“Moments like that sort of inspire the team too, when you’re in a bit of a hole,” he said.

“The big picture for me was when Sam Powell scored you see the relief and the joy there that they had for each other.”