Super League leaders Wigan needed late tries from Lee Mossop and Darrell Goulding to secure a 36-23 win over lowly Wakefield at Belle Vue.
The Warriors had made the perfect start as Josh Charnley ran in two of his three tries inside the first 15 minutes but the hosts produced a battling display to lead 23-16 with 52 minutes gone.
But Charnley completed his hat-trick on the hour and Pat Richards' conversion got them to within a point before Mossop (73) rumbled in under the posts and Goulding wrapped up the win two minutes from time.
The Warriors took the lead on their first real attack, Goulding's flick pass putting Charnley in at the corner, and the centre added a second on 15 following another slick build-up although this time Pat Richards missed with the extras.
Dean Collis got the hosts on the board on 21 as the Wildcats made the most of a penalty near the Wigan line and skipper Danny Kirmond went over from close range on 25 with Lee Smith converting both tries for a 12-10 lead.
They extended their advantage two minutes before the break when Kyle Wood raced down the line and although Smith missed the extras from the line he made amends with a superb 40-metre drop goal right on the half-time hooter.
Wigan responded immediately after the interval with runs from Sam Tomkins and Ben Flower getting them within range before Harrison Hansen twisted over the line.
Richards' conversion got the visitors within a point but Wakefield restored their six-point lead on 52 when Kirmond burst through the Wigan line to go in under the posts.
Charnley completed his hat-trick on the hour to take his Super League try tally for the season to 21 and Richards' brilliant kick got the Warriors back to 23-22
The Wildcats kept their noses in front thanks to a couple of try-saving tackles from skipper Kirmond before he had to limp out of the game with an injury.
But their resistance was finally broken on 73 when Michael McIlorum sent Mossop in under the posts and a Richards' penalty and Goulding's try at the death made it 10 Super League wins on the bounce for the Warriors.